The Cape Town labour court yesterday reserved judgment in an application brought by a female prostitute who alleges she was unfairly dismissed by a massage parlour for refusing to give a client oral sex.

The Cape Town labour court yesterday reserved judgment in an application brought by a female prostitute who alleges she was unfairly dismissed by a massage parlour for refusing to give a client oral sex.

Her earlier appeal to the Council for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) against her unfair dismissal was dismissed on the grounds that her work was unlawful and against public policy.

The woman, who may not be identified, then launched review proceedings in the Cape Town labour court.

She was represented by senior counsel Wim Trengove who contended that the Constitution protected "everyone" against unfair dismissal whereas the CCMA had also ruled that she was not an employee in the normal sense of the word.

Trengove contended that the CCMA had to interpret the Labour Relations Act in the spirit of the Constitution. - Sapa