I share your concern in relation to the position of the employees in the company’s stores in Limerick and elsewhere who have been understandably apprehensive about the future of their jobs and the payment of monies owed to them by their employer. I understand that this situation has arisen due to difficulties across its operations in the UK and Ireland, arising from dramatic changes in the way music and films are bought and sold. On becoming aware of the evolving situation in the company last week, I asked the National Employment Rights Authority (NERA) to contact the workers involved in the sit-ins and to mobilise NERA resources to answer queries from all workers on their employment rights. My Department established a direct line of contact with the receiver from the outset and I was assured that communicating with staff would be a priority. I understand that, over the weekend, the receiver secured the agreement of staff to discontinue their sit-ins in return for his commitment to arrange for payment of wages this week. The receiver has indicated he is making every effort to find a buyer for the Irish operation.
In the event that an insolvent employer is unable to pay monies due to employees in respect of pay, overtime, holiday pay, sick pay etc. there are a number of protections in legislation which enable the employees to receive payment out of the Social Insurance Fund. In relation to access to social welfare entitlements, I would point out that this is a matter for my colleague the Minister for Social Protection.
