An Essex company says it intends to abide by a ruling by the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal after it fired a Tunisian man.
The Tribunal decided Ben Saad successfully "established on a balance of probability that the respondent [Essex Weld Solutions] discriminated against him on the basis of disability when it terminated his employment."
However, the tribunal rejected Saad's claim that his ethnic origin was also a factor.
Saad says he and three friends came to Canada from Tunisia on a work permit in June 2014. He suffered a head injury when he was hit by a closing steel door on the job in November of that year. Under the advice of his doctor, Saad took time off work and returned only to perform light duties. However, he says his supervisor pressured him to continue with his normal duties. In February 2015, he was fired along with a relative.
Essex Weld Solutions did not testify at the hearing, but in a release to the media says it "recognizes the unfairness to Mr. Saad... extends its unreserved apologies to Mr Saad and looks forward to compensating him in accordance with the tribunal's decision."
The tribunal has ordered the company to pay Saad $20,000, issue him a letter of employment and hire a consultant to ensure it is in compliance with human rights legislation.