A BIDFORD building firm has opposed a compensation claim of £1,460 by a former employee after he alleged he had not been fully paid for three weeks' work.

Mario Fiorietta told a Birmingham Employment Tribunal that he had been given the job as a building all rounder by D Kitaure Builders of Stratford Road, Bidford, after seeing it advertised in a Job Centre.

He said he was engaged on the firm's contract helping to install aids and adaptations for disabled people in their own private homes.

Mr Fiorietta told the tribunal that Baldev Kitaure who ran the Bidford firm promised to pay him between £80 and £150 a day. But he said that he was not paid his full wages after working from 8am to 5pm for three weeks.

The work involved bricklaying, plastering and fitting kitchen units, said Mr Fiorietta. The total owed was £1,460.

Mr Kitaure told the tribunal he was opposing Mr Fiorietta's claim because he alleged Mr Fiorietta used to go home early and had been employed on a self-employed basis.

"You were not always on the site," said Mr Kitaure. A dispute then broke out between the two men over time sheets and tribunal chairman David Crump intervened to stop the argument.

Mr Fiorietta later denied that he left the work sites early.

Mr Crump adjourned the hearing to allow more witnesses to attend to give evidence after stating he wanted more details about the amount of work carried out.

The hearing continues.