SHAPE ordered to compensate a dismissed employee

(BRUSSELS2) The Shape Community Support Management Committee (NATO's Allied Staff in Europe) has been ordered to compensate one of its employees, Lydia A., for unfair dismissal, we learned today reading the Belgian daily Le Soir today. In September 2005, says our colleague, the Casteau military base had closed its bar, the International Club. A dozen employees were dismissed, including Lydia, on maternity leave at the time, who was informed of her dismissal on her return to work. Reason given by SHAPE: "the drop in attendance due to the events of September 11, 2001". The Mons labor court delivered its judgment on February 28 and recognized the abusive nature of the dismissal, condemning the management committee, the CSCF to pay compensation of six months' salary to its former employee. The committee "is a limited partnership registered with the Crossroads Bank for Enterprises. It is registered with the ONSS. It is therefore a Belgian employer who is required to comply with Belgian social legislation" argued Lydia's lawyer, Raoul Moury, at Evening. Arguments received by the court. The employer, on the other hand, was not very convincing. He could not present - as requested - the " accounts of all its recreational establishments as well as personnel figures since 2001". Better, he had reopened, shortly after, another bar, under another name, but with personnel from the base (military families most of the time).