ELIJAH TETTEHVI AND 14 OTHERS vs. NESTLE GHANA LIMITED [2016]DLHC9142

Date	2016-10-07
Suit No.	SUIT NO. BC 207/2007
Citation No.	[2016]DLHC9142

HIS LORDSHIP JUSTICE KWABENA ASUMAN-ADU

PAUL K. OPOKU ESQ. FOR THE PLAINTIFFS

KORANTENG ATA-CAESAR WITH GODFRIED KWAME ROGER AYEH FOR THE DEFENDANT

[2016]DLHC9142
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ELIJAH TETTEHVI AND
14 OTHERS<o:p></o:p>

(PLAINTIFFS)<o:p></o:p>

vs.<o:p></o:p>

NESTLE GHANA LIMITED<o:p></o:p>

(DEFENDANT)<o:p></o:p>

[HIGH COURT, ACCRA]<o:p></o:p>

SUIT NO. BC 207/2007&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;DATE:
7TH OCTOBER, 2016<o:p></o:p>

</div>

COUNSEL
<o:p></o:p>

PAUL
K. OPOKU ESQ. FOR THE PLAINTIFFS <o:p></o:p>

<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-top:.15pt;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:
0cm;margin-left:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;line-height:115%;
border:none;mso-border-bottom-alt:solid windowtext 1.5pt;padding:0cm;
mso-padding-alt:0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm">KORANTENG ATA-CAESAR WITH GODFRIED KWAME
ROGER AYEH FOR THE DEFENDANT<o:p></o:p>

</div>

CORAM:<o:p></o:p>

HIS
LORDSHIP JUSTICE KWABENA ASUMAN-ADU<o:p></o:p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:5.05pt;text-align:justify;line-height:
115%;border:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext 1.5pt;mso-border-bottom-alt:
solid windowtext 1.5pt;padding:0cm;mso-padding-alt:1.0pt 0cm 1.0pt 0cm">JUDGMENT<o:p></o:p>

</div>

Plaintiffs
commenced the instant action by issuing writ of summons and statement of claim
against the defendant on 7th May, 2003 at an Accra Circuit Court claiming the
following reliefs:<o:p></o:p>

<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-top:10.0pt;margin-right:15.35pt;
margin-bottom:0cm;margin-left:43.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;
text-indent:-18.0pt;line-height:115%;mso-list:l2 level1 lfo4;tab-stops:43.05pt">1.&nbsp;&nbsp; A
declaration that having regularly and continuously worked for the defendant
company for a long period spanning from 5 to over 10 years respectively without
a break, their status automatically changed from casual to permanent workers.<o:p></o:p>

2.&nbsp;&nbsp; Payment
in lieu of notice upon being laid off.<o:p></o:p>

3.&nbsp;&nbsp; Adequate
and reasonable severance award upon being laid
off.<o:p></o:p>

4.&nbsp;&nbsp; Payment
to them in lieu of statutory annual leave denied them.<o:p></o:p>

<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-top:2.55pt;margin-right:11.05pt;
margin-bottom:0cm;margin-left:43.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;
text-indent:-18.0pt;line-height:115%;mso-list:l2 level1 lfo4;tab-stops:43.05pt">5.&nbsp;&nbsp; Interest
on all payments demanded as per the above claims at the prevailing bank rate
until the case is disposed of.<o:p></o:p>

The
defendant entered appearance on 19th May, 2003 and on 3rd June, 2003 filed its
statement of defence denying plaintiffs’ claim. The plaintiffs filed reply to
the statement of defence and summons for direction on 11th July, 2003. The
following issues were raised by the plaintiffs:<o:p></o:p>

<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-top:10.05pt;margin-right:54.75pt;
margin-bottom:0cm;margin-left:43.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;
text-indent:-18.0pt;line-height:115%;mso-list:l3 level1 lfo3;tab-stops:43.05pt">a)&nbsp;&nbsp;
Whether or not plaintiffs worked continuously
and regularly without a break for the respective years until 2001.<o:p></o:p>

b)&nbsp;&nbsp;
Whether or not the substance of plaintiffs’
job i.e. by virtue of its regularity and continuity could equitably be said to
be casual in the strictest sense of the word
casual.<o:p></o:p>

c)&nbsp;&nbsp;
Whether or not throughout plaintiffs’
continued stay with defendant, they were allowed to enjoy their statutory
annual leave, or monies were paid to them in </main>