12/09/2016

FF Slams HMV For Leaving Workers Without Redundancy Pay

Fianna Fáil has slammed HMV for leaving workers without redundancy pay as the company enters liquidation.

Four stores, three in Dublin and one in Limerick, were closed on Saturday, 10 September.

Fianna Fáil Jobs Spokesperson, Niall Collins TD, said the move was a "terrible blow" for staff who will not be receiving a redundancy package, despite receiving letters from management who said they would.

Mr Collins said: "The State will now have to step in and provide basic statutory redundancy which, in some cases, may be considerable less than what they would have received if the company had paid them their redundancy.

"What happened today is nothing short of scandalous. The company made a commitment to their former staff, and simply decided to renege on it.

"Using the protection of liquidation to evade redundancy commitments is unfair, and unjust. Owners of companies have a moral obligation to ensure that all that is owed to staff is paid."

"This is setting a very bad precedent which cannot be allowed to take hold. It's clearly unfair and places a larger burden on the State."

"Fianna Fáil will be looking at the relevant legislation, and proposing amendments, to see if this type of situation can be avoided in the future. It's just not on for a company to leave their former, loyal staff high and dry like this."

(LM/CD)

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