Paris Bakery workers speak after High Court appoints liquidator

THE High Court in Dublin formally wound up Paris Bakery & Pastry Ltd on Monday and appointed a liquidator in response to a petition by the Revenue Commissioner. The Revenue Commissioner had intervened after a 19-day sit-in by Paris Bakery workers.

The Paris Bakery sit-in began on Friday 23 May when employers Yannick Forel and Ruth Savill locked workers out, refusing to pay the workers or to wind up the company, and ended on Tuesday 10 June with the intervention of the Revenue Commissioner. The company owes over €150,000 in wages and entitlements to some 25 workers.

Speaking outside the High Court, former Paris Bakery employee Eduard Claihnet said:

“Today a liquidator was appointed, which means we will now be able to access the insolvency fund, as well as the money awarded by the LRC to exploited workers, hopefully.

“We are delighted that the Government has stepped in to wind up the company; they too are owed over €100,000 in taxes. The liquidator has already made contact with us. We’re relieved that the end is in sight at last.”

Anissa Hosany, a chef with the bakery for over three years, said:

“We know that this happens to lots of other workers. We want our experience to help make the situation better for others.

“The Government needs to act quickly to change the law so that business owners can’t simply walk away from their failed businesses without winding it up.

“Workers who have been abandoned by these businesses need to be allowed access to the Insolvency Fund. This happened to Vita Cortex workers, it happened to La Senza workers – the Government must change the law to make sure we’re the last workers ever to find ourselves in such dire circumstances.”

Report via Migrant Rights Centre Ireland