Iceland workers’ wages and jobs
Deputy O'Reilly raised the sacking of Iceland workers, unpaid wages and holiday pay, and uncertainty for staff in stores still operating. The Taoiseach said they should get what they are owed, acknowledged slow mechanisms, and would seek an update from the Minister.
Yesterday, I was with the Iceland workers in Talbot Street. They turned up for work on Monday morning only to be told that they had been sacked and that the shop is closing. They are owed wages and holiday pay and have no idea when they are going to get either. The examinership process is under way, but it is not acceptable that they have been left in limbo while workers in other stores do not know if they will have a job this time next week. Some of the shops have closed and some are still operating. In some cases, workers have been left with only partial wages. These are low-paid workers. We have listened to much chat about high earners getting top-ups on their extremely high wages. These are workers on very modest wages, and they cannot even get those paid.
The Minister met with the management of Iceland. I ask that another meeting be convened or that some form of contact be made with the management in order that the workers can get some sort of clarity as to when they are going to get their wages. These are people who live very much from hand to mouth. They do not have savings to dip into and they certainly do not have anyone coming over the hill with a big top-up for them.
Comment on this
I thank the Deputy. The Iceland workers should get the money they are owed. We both agree on that. There are mechanisms to make sure that this happens. Sometimes, these are very slow. I appreciate that if someone is on a low income and does not have savings to dip into, that can be very difficult. I have not had an update from the Minister on how the meeting went, but I will seek one today and ask if there is more we can do.