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Tanzania Judgment

TANZLII

MAOMBI YA MAREJEO NO 11432 OF 2024 JOYCE JOHN BUGINDO VRS GEILI GROUP TANZANIA CO

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01

Holding and result

The applicant was a permanent employee, not a casual labourer, as evidenced by the employment relationship and payroll records. The termination was unfair and without due process. The applicant is entitled to compensation for unfair termination, severance pay, accrued leave, and statutory certificates.

Court disposition

Application allowed. Commission's decision set aside.

Orders

  • Respondent to pay applicant TZS 1,728,000 as compensation for unfair termination
  • Respondent to pay applicant TZS 42,000 as severance pay
  • Respondent to pay applicant TZS 144,000 as accrued leave
  • Respondent to issue certificate of service and letter of termination to applicant
  • Total monetary award: TZS 1,938,000

02

Material facts

Parties

Joyce John Bugzndo

Mleta Maombi Counsel: Self

Gezli Group Tanzania Co. Ltd

Mjibu Maombi Counsel: Tawajud Lwenduru

Amounts and remedies

  • Compensation for Unfair Termination: TZS 1,728,000
  • Severance Pay: TZS 42,000
  • Accrued Leave: TZS 144,000
  • Total Monetary Award: TZS 1,938,000

03

Procedural history

  1. Posture

    Labour Revision / Judgment

04

Questions and positions

Legal issues

Party arguments

Applicant
Applicant argued she was a permanent employee, unfairly terminated without cause or procedure, and entitled to compensation and statutory benefits. She disputed the Commission's finding that she was a casual employee and cited payroll evidence and lack of written contract copy as supporting her claim.
Respondent
Respondent, through counsel, argued the Commission properly determined the applicant was a casual employee with a fixed-term contract, paid daily, and not entitled to the claimed benefits. Respondent denied unfair termination and disputed the relevance of the cited precedent.

05

Court’s reasoning

  1. 01

    Employment and Labour Relations Act [Cap 366 R.E. 2019], sections 14, 15, 40(1)(c), 42(2)(a), 44(1)(b)

    Employment contracts may be permanent, fixed-term, or for specific tasks. Payment mode alone does not determine employment status. Employers must provide written particulars and statutory benefits as per the Employment and Labour Relations Act.

06

Ratio, limits and disposition

Ratio decidendi

The applicant was a permanent employee, not a casual labourer, as evidenced by the employment relationship and payroll records. The termination was unfair and without due process. The applicant is entitled to compensation for unfair termination, severance pay, accrued leave, and statutory certificates.

Obiter and limits

  • The mere fact of daily payment does not convert a permanent employee into a casual labourer.
  • If the respondent disputed the Commission's findings, the proper procedure was to file a revision, not raise the issue in this proceeding.

Court disposition

Application allowed. Commission's decision set aside.

  • Respondent to pay applicant TZS 1,728,000 as compensation for unfair termination
  • Respondent to pay applicant TZS 42,000 as severance pay
  • Respondent to pay applicant TZS 144,000 as accrued leave
  • Respondent to issue certificate of service and letter of termination to applicant
  • Total monetary award: TZS 1,938,000

Source and reliance status

TANZLII · 1 January 2024

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Judgment text

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Source document

TANZLII

Judgment· 1 January 2024

MAOMBI YA MAREJEO NO 11432 OF 2024 JOYCE JOHN BUGINDO VRS GEILI GROUP TANZANIA CO

KATIKA MAHAKAMA KUU YA YA JAMHURI YA MUUNGANO WA TANZANIA

DIVISHENI YA KAZI

DAR ES SALAAM MAOMBZ YA MAREJEO NA. 11432 YA MWAKA 2024 KUMBUKUMBU KESZ NA. 202405191000011432 JOYCE JOHN BUGZNDO................ ................................. MLETA MAOMBZ

DHZDZ YA GEZLI GROUP TANZANIA CO. LTD ....... ............................ MJZBU MAOMBZ

HUKUMU Tarehe ya Amri ya Mwisho\28/ 08/2024 Tarehe ya Hukumu: 18/ 09/2024 MLYAMBINA, J. Ni madai ya Mleta Maombi kuwa aliajiriwa na Mjibu Maombi kwa ajira ya kudumu mnamo tarehe 16/12/2020, alisainishwa mkataba wa maandishi wa kudumu ila hakupewa nakala na Mwajiri wake baada ya kusaini Mkataba. Kwamba, aliachishwa kazi pasipo kuwa na sababu ya msingi na aliachishwa kwa mdomo bila kufuata utaratibu wowote. Baada ya kutoridhishwa na uachishwaji kazi, Mleta Maombi alipeleka mgogoro Tume ya Usuluhishi na Uamuzi (itajulikana kama Tume) kanda ya Pwani iliyopo Mkuranga. Baada ya kusikiliza Tume ilijiridhisha kuwa Mleta Maombi alifukuzwa kazi bila sababu ya msingi wala kufuata utaratibu. Hivyobasi, Tume iliamuru Mleta Maombi alipwe kiasi cha Shilingi elfu ishirini nan ne (TZS 24,000/=). Ni madai ya Mleta Maombi kuwa, Tume ilikataa kutoa nafuu zilizoombwana katika fomu namba 1 kwa kuamua kuwa Mleta Maombi alikuwa kibarua na siyo Mwajiriwa wa kudumu. Hivyo basi, baada ya kutoridhishwa na maamuzi hayo ya Tume, Mleta Maombi amewasilisha maombi haya kwa sababu zifuatazo: i. Kwamba, Mheshimiwa Mwamuzi alikosea kisheria na kimantiki kuamua kuwa Mleta Maombi alikuwa kibarua (Casual employee). ii. Kwamba, Mheshimiwa Mwamuzi alikosea Kisheria na kimantiki kuamua kuwa Mleta Maombi hastahili kulipwa fidia ya kuachishwa kazi ya mshahara wa miezi kumi na mbili (12). iii. Kwamba, Mheshimiwa Mwamuzi

alikosea kisheria na kimantiki kutoa uamuzi nje ya hoja zilizokuwa zinabishaniwa mbele ya Tume. iv. Kwamba, Mheshimiwa Mwamuzi alikosea kwamba Mleta Maombi anastahili kulipwa Shilingi 24,000/= tu. v. Kwamba, Mheshimiwa Mwamuzi alikosea kisheria kwa kushindwa kuuchambua vyema ushahidi uliotolewa. Katika kuendesha shauri hili, Mleta Maombi alijiwakilisha mwenyewe ilihali Bw. Tawajud Lwenduru, Wakili wa Kujitegemea alimwakilisha Mjibu Maombi. Hoja zote zilijadiliwa kwa pamoja. Ilielezwa kuwa, suala la aina ya mkataba baina ya Mleta Maombi na Mjibu Maombi halikuwa miongoni mwa hoja za mabishano zilizokubaliwa kujadiliwa mbele ya Tume. Mleta Maombi alidai kuwa Tume iliamua hoja hiyo bila kumpa Mleta Maombi haki ya kusikilizwa kwakuwa hata ushahidi ulioandaliwa ulijikita katika hoja zilizokuwa zimekubaliwa. Hi kuyapa nguvu mawasilisho yake, Mleta Maombi alirejea kesi ya Godwin Kashaigili na Wenzake Wawili dhidi ya John M. Nchwende, Rufaa namba 20 ya 2020 Mahakama kuu ya Tanzania Kanda ya Bukoba ambapo Mahakama ilieleza umuhimu wa kuandaa hoja bishaniwa na kuzizingatia ili kutenda haki kwa Wadaawa. Mleta Maombi alikanusha vikali kuwa hakuwa kibarua kama ambavyo iliamuriwa na Tume. Aliongeza kuwa, mwenye jukumu la kuthibitisha uachishwaji kazi ni Mwajiri na katika kesi hii alishindwa kufanya hivyo. Kwamba, hata katika ushahidi wa DW1 alieleza kuwa Mleta Maombi alikuwa akilipwa kwa

mwezi na alitoa orodha ya karatasi la malipo ya mshahara (payroll) exhibit R2 kuthibitisha hilo. Mleta maombi aliendelea kusisitiza kuwa Mjibu Maombi alimpatia mkataba wa kudumu lakini alishindwa kuuwasilisha mkataba huo Tume kwa kuwa hakupewa nakala. Kwamba, ushahidi uliopo unathibitisha kuwa alikuwa ni Mwajiriwa wa kudumu. Hivyo, Muamuzi alikosea kisheria kusema kuwa alikuwa ni kibarua. Mleta Maombi alieleza kuwa alikuwa akilipwa Shilingi 144,000/= kwa mwezi na Mleta Maombi aliomba mbele ya Tume nafuu ya fidia ya kuachishwa kazi ya mishahara ya miezi kumi na mbili (12), pesa ya notisi ya kufukuzwa kazi, pesa ya likizo ya miaka miwili mfululizo, kiinua mgongo, mshahara wa siku alizofanya kazi bila maiipo, cheti cha utumishi na barua ya kikomo cha ajira. Jumla ya fedha za fidia ni shilingi Milioni tatu tu (TZS 3,000,000/=). Hivyo, Tume ilikosea kisheria kuamua kuwa Mleta Maombi anastahili kulipwa TZS 24,000/=. Akijibu hoja, wakili Lwenduru alieleza kwamba Mheshimiwa muamuzi alitoa uamuazi wake kulingana na hoja za pande zote walizokubaliana kama ambavyo inaonekana katika ukurasa wa pill na watano wa uamuzi wa Tume. Alieleza kuwa wakatl Mheshimiwa Muamuzi akijibu hoja ya tatu ambayo ilikuwa ni nini nafuu kwa pande zote mbili ndipo aiitaka kujua Mleta Maombi alikuwa na mkataba wa aina gani ili kutoa nafuu kulingana na sheria. Wakili aliongeza kuwa maamuzi yalotolewa kulingana na

ushahidi uliotolewa mbele ya Tume hivyo basi kesi ya Godwin Kashaingili (supra) iliyorejewa na Mleta Maombi haifanani na mazingira ya kesi hii. Wakiii alikanusha vikali madai ya Mleta Maombi kuwa na mkataba wa kudumu. Alieleza kuwa Mleta Maombi alikuwa na mkataba wa muda maalumu na ajira yake ilikuwa inaisha siku hiyohiyo alipokuwa analipwa. Pia, katika mawasilisho yake Wakili alikanusha vikali maamuzi ya kuwa Mleta Maombi aliachishwa kazi. Wakili ameeleza kwa mapana namna anavyopingana na maamuzi hayo ya Tume. Aidha, Mahakama haioni umuhimu wa kujadili jambo hilo kwakuwa endapo Mjibu Maombi anapingana na maamuzi ya Tume 4 alitakiwa kufungua shauri la marejeo na sio kuliibua suala hilo katika shauri hili ambalo madai ya Mleta Maombi ni fidia tu. Baada ya kuzingatia ushahidi wa pande zote mbili Mahakama inajiuliza endapo M a a/izopewa Mleta Maombi ni sahihi. Tume iliamua kuwa, Mleta Maombi hastahili kulipwa fidia alizoomba kwakuwa ajira yake ilikuwa kwa siku na ilikuwa inaisha palepale alipokua anamaliza kazi na kulipwa. Kwamba, hakuna uthibitisho kuwa Mleta Maombi alikuwa na mkataba wake wa kudumu. Katika Ushahidi wake DW1 alieleza yafuatayo: Mlalamikaji aliajiriwa Disemba 2020 kwa mkataba wa maneno na 1, Novemba 2022 alipewa mkataba wa muda maalumu. Hata katika maelezo yake ya awali, Mjibu Maombi alieleza wazi kuwa Mleta Maombi alikuwa mwajiriwa wake lakini hakueleza kama

alikuwa na mkataba wa kudumu au la. Kwa mujibu wa Kifungucha 14 cha Sheria ya Ajira na Mahusiano Kazini [Sura 366 Kama iiivyorejewa 2019] kuna aina ya mikataba mitatu inayotambulika kisheria. Mkataba usio na muda maalumu yaani wakudumu, mkataba wa muda maalumu na mkataba wa kazi maalumu. Kwa Ushahidi uliopo katika kesi hii, ni wazi kuwa Mleta Maombi alikuwa na aina ya kwanza ya mkataba yaani mkataba wa kudumu. Suala la kwamba Mleta Maombi alikuwa ni kibarua tu naona sio la kweli kwakuwa hata Mleta Maombi mwenyewe anakiri alikuwa mwajiriwa wake. Hivyo, Mahakama inajiuliza kama alikuwa ni kibarua tu (casual labour) alimpatia mkataba wa nini? Na je suala hilo la kuwa kibarua Hmeweza kuthibitishwa?H\ msimamo wangu kuwa kigezo pekee chakuwa Mleta Maombi alikuwa analipwa kwa siku hakijibu hoja ya kuwa alikuwa ni kibarua na sio mwajiriwa. Kifungu cha 15 cha Sheria ya Ajira na Mahusiano Atow/kinamtaka mwajiri kumuorodheshea mwajiriwa mambo mbalimbali yaliyoainishwa katika kifungu hicho na mojawapo ni malipo ya mshahara, na stahiki zingine pamoja na aina ya malipo. Katika kesi hii ni wazi kuwa aina ya malipo waliyokubaliana ilikuwa ni kwa siku kiasi cha TZS 6,000. Lakini makubaliano hayo hayaondoi ukweli kuwa kulikuwa na mkataba wa kudumu baina ya wadaawa. Ndio maana hata katika maelezo yake Mjibu Maombi ameeleza kuwa mgogoro uliibuka baada ya kutaka kumbadilishia Mleta Maombi aina ya

mkataba na kumpa mkataba wa muda maalumu wa mwaka mmoja. Hivyo basi, naungana na hoja za Mleta Maombi kuwa muamuzi alijichanganya kuona kuwa Mleta Maombi alikuwa ni kibarua. Ushahidi unathibitisha alikuwa ni mwajiriwa licha ya kuwa hakuna mkataba wa maandishi uliotolewa mbele ya Tume. Kwakuwa imethibitishwa kuwa Mleta Maombi aliachishwa kazi isivyohalali ninaona kuwa anastahili kupewa fidia aliyoomba. Mshahara wa Mleta Maombi ulikuwa TZS 144,000/= kama inavyothibitishwa na kielelezo R2. Kwakuwa Mleta Maombi alikuwa na mkataba wa kudumu anastahili maiipo ya fidia ya kuachishwa kazi isivyo halali kwa mujibu wa Kifungu cha 40(l)(c) cha Sheria ya Ajira na Mahusiano Kazi. Hivyo mlalamikaji alipwe jumla ya TZS 1,7280,000/=. Madai ya mshahara badala ya taarifa ya kuachishwa kazi Mahakama haiyaingilii kwakuwa tayari yameamuriwa kwa usahihi na Tume. Pia, Mleta Maombi ameomba kulipwa kiinua mgongo. Kumbukumbu zinaonesha kuwa aliajiriwa tarehe 16/12/2020 na kuachishwa kazi tarehe 15/11/2022. Hivyo wakati anaachishwa kazi alikamilisha mwaka mmoja unaostahili kulipwa kiinua mgongo kwa mujibu wa kifungu cha 42(2)(a) cha Sheria ya Ajira na Mahusiano Kazini Hivyo anastahili maiipo ya kiasi cha TZS 42,000/=. Mjibu maombi anastahili pia mshahara wa mwezi mmoja kama maiipo ya likizo kwa mujibu wa kifungu cha 44(l)(b) kiasi cha TZS 144,000/=. Pia, anastahili cheti cha utumishi na barua ya

kuachishwa kazi. Hivyobasi, Mahakama inaona kuwa shauri hili lina mantiki. Maamuzi ya Tume yanatenguliwa. Mjibu Maombi anaamuriwa kumlipa Mleta Maombi jumla ya kiasi cha TZS 1,938,000/= pamoja na barua ya kuachishwa kazi na cheti cha utumishi. Imeamuriwa hivyo. 18/09/2024 Hukumu hii imesomwa leo tarehe 18 Mwezi Septemba, 2024 saa nane na dakika 40 Mchana mbele ya Mleta Maombi na Wakili Jackson Mgonja kwa niaba ya Mjibu Maombi. Haki ya Rufaa imeelezwa. 18/09/2024

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Authorities

Authorities used by the court

Cases, legislation, regulations, and constitutional provisions identified in the available record.

Godwin Kashaigili & 2 Others v. John M. Nchwende, Civil Appeal No. 20 of 2020, High Court of Tanzania, Bukoba

Case cited

Employment and Labour Relations Act [Cap 366 R.E. 2019]

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