Courts / Louth / Report

Businessman who claimed Aldi checkout closure was racial discrimination loses case

Date
2023-03-30
Stage
Hearing Or Decision
Primary locality
Drogheda
County
Louth

Summary

In a decision published on 30 March 2023, the Workplace Relations Commission dismissed Adel Sallam's claim that he was racially discriminated against when a cashier at Aldi in Drogheda asked him to move to another checkout. Sallam, a businessman who had lived in Ireland since the 2000s, alleged that the cashier's repeated instructions and gestures were discriminatory. The tribunal found no evidence of racial discrimination, noting that the cashier's actions were consistent with normal store procedures and that the complainant had not made any reference to race. The adjudicator concluded that the alleged poor customer service was a trivial matter and that equality law should not be used to address such complaints. The case was therefore dismissed without further hearing.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Businessman who claimed Aldi checkout closure was racial discrimination loses case. Procedural stage: hearing_or_decision

When:

Why: Mr Sallam said he was facing away from the cashier while he waited to speak with the manager and also had his head down because he was feeling embarrassment – but that when he looked back, the cashier was serving another customer. CNI source report

Places mentioned

Secondary Mention
Residence
Facility
  • Lansdowne House

Topics

Stage Hearing Or Decision

Related court reports

Read the original CNI report

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