Turkish firm ‘will have to pull out if pay claims are true’

TURKISH construction firm Gama will have to pull out of Ireland if a Government investigation backs up serious underpayment allegations, a company representative said last night.

The company, which won numerous State projects including the Ennis and Ballincollig by-passes, yesterday admitted underpaying some of its 800 Turkish workers by 8% for a portion of last year.

The move follows allegations first levelled by Socialist Party leader Joe Higgins in the Dáil last month that Gama paid workers between €2 and €3 an hour.