Courts / Ireland / Report

Dental practice director denies forging signature on work visa contract

Summary

Jagannadha Muttumula, director of The Square Dental Services Ltd, denied forging a signature on a work visa contract during a Workplace Relations Commission hearing. Former employee Dr Min Li, a Canadian national, accused Muttumula and his wife, Dr Hima Bindu Meda, of penalising her under the Employment Permits Act 2006 by dismissing her for refusing to sign a contract reducing her salary from the €64,000 stipulated by the Department of Enterprise to €55,000. Dr Li alleged she was in Taiwan when the disputed contract was purportedly signed and that she was terminated shortly after refusing the pay cut. The employer countered that Dr Li was dismissed during her probationary period due to poor performance and interpersonal conflicts, not the contract dispute. The adjudicating officer denied the company's application for an adjournment to call staff witnesses, stating the hearing was proceeding as scheduled. Dr Li also alleged an illegal €1,000 deduction for visa fees and breaches of the Payment of Wages Act and Organisation of Working Time Act, all of which the firm denied. The matter remains at the charge or pretrial stage, with the adjudicator closing the hearing to consider a decision.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Dental practice director denies forging signature on work visa contract. Procedural stage: charge_or_pretrial

When:

• 18 October 2021 Other
• 3 November 2021 Other
• 2023-04-04 Publication

Why: "We were fair to her and what she is claiming, that is not the reason at all," said the employer, arguing Dr Min was dismissed on probation because of "poor performance" and because she didn't get on with other staff – claims disputed by the complainant. CNI source report

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Charge Or Pretrial

Read the original CNI report