Dealing a significant blow to Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), eight former employees of the national carrier have won a landmark unfair dismissal case in a London court.
The Croydon Court has ordered PIA to pay £5 million in compensation to the ex-employees who were dismissed two years ago.
The employees, who had been with PIA for periods ranging from five to 15 years, challenged their termination in court, arguing that they were unfairly dismissed. They claimed the airline violated the Employment Act during their dismissal process, failing to adhere to British employment laws.
On the second day of the trial, crucial evidence was presented, showing that PIA had not taken British legal standards into account when terminating the contracts. The court ruled in favour of the eight former staff members, finding that PIA’s actions were unlawful.
PIA has accepted the court’s decision and agreed to pay £500,000 in damages to each of the eight employees. This legal defeat is a significant setback for the airline, adding to its ongoing challenges.