Mwase’s compensation claim shoots to K1.5bn
Former Flames coach Meck Mwase is claiming about K1.5 billion as compensation from Football Association of Malawi (FAM) in his submission to the Industrial Relations Court (IRC).
Hearing of the compensation assessment started with the former Flames gaffer’s testimony earlier this month, but was adjourned to July 17.
Initially, Mwase’s lawyer David Kanyenda of Makiyi, Kanyenda and Associates projected that his client would receive about K500 million in compensation after the court ruled that FAM should pay him the full value of his salary and equate it with what expatriate coaches get.
But in an interview on Thursday Kanyenda said: “The projected figure was before we thoroughly computed and calculated.
“Our computation shows that a sum in the region of K1.5 billion is due and payable and a quantum in excess of that amount was submitted and we shall be amenable to the assessment ruling.
“In any event, FAM is liable to pay Mwase some funds to be determined by the honourable court in back pay and lost fringe benefits.”
On his part, one of FAM’s lawyers Luciano Mickeus of Micklaw and Company, said the case is coming for assessment “and this means both parties will propose figures they think are appropriate”.
He said: “We are also proposing a different figurer which we think was fair because if you read the judgement, he was not unfairly dismissed. It was rather discrimination.”
But he could not be drawn to disclose the figure that they are proposing, saying: “It is not appropriate to mention the figure now as it is something that is in court and these are technical issues.”
Delivering judgement of the case in which Mwase sued the association for unlawful termination of his contract, redeployment and constructive dismissal in December last year, IRC deputy chairperson Edna Bodole said the ex-Flames mentor was treated unfairly.
“The complainant [Mwase] was discriminated against in terms of pay as he was placed on inferior wage scale as compared to the expatriates. The court will assess the compensation payable to Mwase as back pay,” reads part of the ruling.
Before his removal, Mwase was receiving at least K1.7 million (about $1 000 at the time of the rulin) as his monthly salary while his successor Mario Marinica was getting $8 500 (about K14. 4 million then).
Assessment of compensation by the court determines how much a claimant should be paid.
