PARIS BAKERY STAFF are now able to access an insolvency fund after a liquidator was appointed to the company.

The High Court formally wound up Paris Bakery and Pastry Ltd today, appointing a liquidator in response to a petition by the Revenue Commissioner.

Sit-in

The Revenue Commissioner had intervened after a 19-day sit-in by Paris bakery workers, which began on Friday 23 May when employers Yannick Forel and Ruth Savill locked workers out.

Staff said they had refused to pay them or wind up the company.

The situation ended on Tuesday 10 June after the Revenue Commissioner intervened.

Staff say the company owes over €150,000 in wages and entitlements to 25 workers.

Former Paris Bakery employee Eduard Claihnet said that staff 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.

Claihnet said that all the Paris Bakery workers “still find it hard to believe that our employers have gotten off scot-free”.

It is unbelievable that what they did is not a crime in Ireland.

Anissa Hosany, a chef with the bakery for over three years, said they want their  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.

Anissa said that the workers feel vindicated today, but are also determined to prevent even one more worker from having to take action like this.

Read: Paris Bakery workers end sit-in as Revenue comes to the rescue>

Read: Revenue demanded €200,000 in unpaid tax from Paris Bakery >