I signed a termination letter recently but my manager on instructions from the HR Department says I have to resign because I have got already a new job. My question is does this manager have the right to hold me.

1. Can he file a case if I walk out, as I have already signed the termination letter?
2. Can I file a case with the Ministry of Labor?
3. Do we still have to continue with the 3-month notice, even though we have already found new jobs?
4. Why are they insisting on me resigning although I have already signed the termination paper?
5. They said also that we don’t have the right to stop working with them.

Name withheld

Answer: The company is right on all aspects. When you resign or are terminated with a 3-month notice, you have to keep working for the three months on the regular timings. The only difference is that if you resign you have to find work in your own time but if you are terminated the company has to give you one day a week to find a new job. If you, however, wish to leave early it has to be done by mutual consent. If any party doesn’t want to implement the 3-month notice period it has to pay the other party a salary equal to the remaining part of the notice period. If you stop work, a case can be filed against you. You are being asked to resign because you are in violation of the rules.