Laois TD Brian Stanley has expressed his full support for the Fastway workers and contractors following the collapse of the company this week.
He said: “The manner that this has been handled in is a scandal and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment need to investigate how this receivership has been handled, and how the employees have been treated.
“Workers have been left in limbo with no wages, because they are still technically employed by the company.
“They are now in a situation where they cannot draw Job Seekers Allowance. The contractors who are doing a service for the company and doing deliveries have been left in an even more difficult situation, as some of them who have purchased vans are now left with no income, and no way to pay for their vehicles.
“I am calling for the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Peter Burke to intervene immediately to ensure that this matter is dealt with, and for his senior officials to engage with the company and receiver involved, to ensure that the contractors are looked after by the assets of the company, that may be there.
“I am also calling for him to ensure that the workers receive their proper redundancy immediately.
“Also the Department of Social Protection needs to engage with workers, and I am calling on the Minister for Social Protection, Dara Calleary to ensure that where workers may not be able to get Jobseekers Allowance that under the Supplementary Welfare Scheme they can be granted an Exceptional Needs Payment.
“This needs to be granted for workers with no wages in the coming weeks, and that he ensures that they receive a weekly payment.
“I have engaged with both Departments and I will be following up on this in the time ahead to ensure that we try and do the best we can for the workers and contractors.
“The Department of Trade and Employment also need to ensure that deliveries are been carried out where goods are held in stores for deliveries throughout Laois and the Midlands and that those goods are released to competent delivery companies.”
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