JUDGMENT

Introduction

[1] The key issue in this appeal is whether the appellant/claimant was employed on a fixed-term contract or was a permanent employee of the respondent at the material time. The Industrial Court and the High Court found that the appellant/claimant was a permanent employee of the respondent and his dismissal from his employment was without just cause or excuse. On appeal, the Court of Appeal set aside the decision of the High Court and allowed the respondents appeal.

[2] On 7 January 2019, this court granted the appellant/claimant leave to appeal on the following questions of law:

(i) Whether a need for work permit is a material consideration in determining whether an employment contract is a genuine fixed- term contract; and

(ii) Does a contract of employment which is renewed successively without application by the employee and without any intermittent breaks in between, is in reality a permanent employment.