Court of Appeal Highlights Flaws in WIOC Redundancy Handling, Revises Compensation for Long-Serving Employees

A recent ruling by the Eastern Caribbean Court of Appeal (ECCA) has brought attention to flaws in how the West Indies Oil Company Limited (WIOC) handled redundancies during its restructuring, following the government’s acquisition of a controlling interest.

The case involved two long-serving employees, Janis James and Bernadine Henry-Hughes, whose dismissals were deemed unreasonable. However, the ECCA criticized the initial compensation amounts, citing a lack of evidence that the employees sought alternative employment.

Justice Trevor Ward highlighted WIOC’s failure to consult adequately with the Antigua and Barbuda Trades and Labour Union and to consider internal redeployment options. The court revised the compensation, reducing lost wages to six months’ salary while preserving other benefits, including notice pay, health insurance, and gas concessions.

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