Courts / Limerick / Report

Workers who shut down restaurant in revolt over unpaid wages - including chef who worked 111 hours per week - win €22k

Date
2025-02-25

Stage
Trial

Primary locality
Limerick

Summary

A group of nine former employees of The Food Point Limited in Limerick City secured total awards of €21,728 from the Workplace Relations Commission for employment rights breaches. The adjudicator found that the employer failed to pay wages and premium rates for Sunday work under the Payment of Wages Act and the Organisation of Working Time Act. Former head chef Frederico Madureira testified that he worked 111 hours per week during the restaurant's launch in September 2023, including 222 hours in a fortnight, and was unpaid for 163 hours in November 2023. Other staff, including kitchen assistant Rafaela dos Santos and applicant Patrícia Gasperíni, stated they stopped working after wages were withheld. The employer failed to appear at hearings concerning Madureira, dos Santos, and Gasperíni in autumn 2024. The adjudicator awarded sums ranging from €962 to €2,926 for unpaid wages and annual leave. Additionally, orders were made to top up Sunday wages by 30% for eight workers and to pay €500 in compensation each for rights breaches. Claims for statutory notice pay were rejected because none of the workers had completed the required 13-week qualifying period. Complaints under the National Minimum Wage Act 2000 were declined due to the absence of requested statements of working hours, though the adjudicator noted the workers could lodge fresh complaints.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Workers who shut down restaurant in revolt over unpaid wages - including chef who worked 111 hours per week - win €22k. Procedural stage: trial

When: