Claimant v Relief International Syria
Outcome
Individual claims
The tribunal had no jurisdiction to determine the claim. The claimant worked in Syria for a Syrian entity, was paid in US dollars, and the work was not performed in England and Wales. The tribunal has no jurisdiction over Syrian labour law claims and the claim was rejected on jurisdictional grounds.
Facts
The claimant was a Syrian national who worked for Relief International Syria from December 2018 to November 2024, living and working in Syria and paid in US dollars. He came to the UK on 4 October 2024 to study, hoping to continue working remotely, but was dismissed on 4 November 2024 because he needed to work in the field in Syria. He claimed redundancy payment under Syrian law. The respondent had a linked UK entity, Relief International-UK, but this entity did not employ the claimant.
Decision
The tribunal found it had no jurisdiction to hear the claim. The claimant worked in Syria for a Syrian entity, the work was not performed in England and Wales, and the only connection to the UK was the claimant's presence as a student and the existence of a linked UK entity. The tribunal has no jurisdiction over Syrian labour law and the claim was rejected.
Practical note
Employment tribunals in England and Wales have no jurisdiction over claims arising from employment performed entirely abroad under foreign law, even where the claimant is physically present in the UK and the employer has a linked UK entity.
Legal authorities cited
Statutes
Case details
- Case number
- 6018228/2024
- Decision date
- 22 September 2025
- Hearing type
- preliminary
- Hearing days
- 1
- Classification
- contested
Respondent
- Sector
- charity
- Represented
- Yes
- Rep type
- in house
Employment details
- Service
- 6 years
Claimant representation
- Represented
- No