The Labour Court dismissed Bukola Eigbogba’s appeal and upheld a €4,800 award to Mariaam Bhatti Sithabile for breaches of working-time rules. Its determination was dated 2 August 2012. The Court found Bhatti Sithabile was an employee in Eigbogba’s household and had regularly worked more than 48 hours a week.
Eigbogba said Bhatti Sithabile was a guest and denied employing or paying her. Bhatti Sithabile said she was recruited as an au pair, cared for children and did household work, and was paid €400 a month. The Court preferred Bhatti Sithabile’s evidence, finding it consistent with a handwritten note, a document headed “Contract” and an au pair advertisement Eigbogba had placed. It found an employer-employee relationship existed and affirmed the Rights Commissioner’s award under the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997. A separate appeal under the National Minimum Wage Act was decided as MWD127.