Construction firm denies mistreatment of workers

ALLEGATIONS regarding the poor treatment of workers on the now halted €9 million refurbishment of Eyre Square in Galway city have been denied by the Cork-based construction company.

Meanwhile, Galway City Council says it will not have to go through a full tender to appoint a new contractor and has already made contact with other companies which had tendered for the foundered project.

Yesterday, the construction company which abandoned the site, Samuel Kingston Construction Ltd (SKCL), said: “The interruption which this will have on the residents, the business community and others in Galway and environs is regretted, but it is the unavoidable consequence of a series of events touching or concerning the contract and of which, SKCL has been advised, it would not be appropriate to divulge details at this stage through the media.”

SKCL said it regretted having to sack the workers on the Eyre Square site.

“Allegations have been made regarding the treatment of workers by SKCL. The said allegations are unfounded ... The Polish workers recruited directly from Poland by SKCL had contracts which provided for accommodation and for their travel expenses to and from Poland. This has been honoured. All employees as of June 27, were fully paid except for their week-in-hand. All outstanding entitlements will be paid to all of the workforce,” the company said.

“Allegations made by a union official in relation to labour conditions are unfounded,” it added.

Last April, 30 workers employed by SKCL walked off the troubled site in a row over wages.

The Galway local authority has contacted three construction companies which had applied for the original tender.

The local authority has also sought legal advice following the sudden pull-out of SKCL on Monday morning.