Hope someone could help to guide us in the right directions.
After 17 years of working for a bank in London my sister, whilst on maternity leave, was told that her contract will not be extended as the bank is moving some of their operations, including her job, abroad.
Her 17 years of service consisted of 9 annual daily rate contracts, followed by a 5 year fixed term contract extended by another 3 years.
They've said she is not eligible for any redundancy pay, as she is not a regular employee, so her fixed term contract will just come to an end and will not be extended.
She is also expecting her second child and notified her employer, but this did not change its position.
She has applied for 3 newly announced positions in her department but was not offered any of them ( I suppose because she is pregnant, although they have of corse said that other candidates had more experience).
Under UK law she would have been protected, but this particular bank is not subject to UK Law, but a subject to an International Administrative Law.
She has applied to the internal grievance committee, which has come back with a list of tricky legal questions and so we are frantically searching for a lawyer with experience in International Administrative law, not UK employment law, because the bank is immune from it.
He maternity leave is unpaid and lawyers charge 400+VAT/hour, so are not affordable. Are there any charities which can help?
So if anyone has any idea, please kindly get back to me. thank you