Gama workers call on Government to help locate wages

GAMA employees yesterday demanded that the Government take up the issue of previously unknown Dutch bank accounts in workers’ names with the Dutch Government and Central Bank.

After a fifth day of unprecedented protest, hundreds of Gama workers from around the country yesterday marched to the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment to hand in a letter demanding a meeting with Enterprise Minister Micheál Martin to “discuss how the Irish Government can ensure immediate access to our wages held in Finansbank”.

Under an agreement brokered by Gama, wages were paid into Finansbank before being automatically transferred to a third firm called Ryder Investments.

However, both Gama and Finansbank have refused to reveal where Ryder Investments is based or who owns it. Gama has also refused to confirm whether or not it is in any way connected to Ryder Investments.

A spokeswoman for Mr Martin said a meeting with workers would take place next week. Although the Department is powerless to prevent the repatriation of 140 workers, Mr Martin has indicated that he would prefer Gama to resolve payment issues before sending workers home.

A spokesman for the Dutch Central Bank said the bank would consider the issue before commenting on Monday, but it is understood that Mr Martin will meet with senior Gama management from Turkey in Ireland next week.

In a statement last night Gama said it had already respected the minister’s wishes by postponing a planned repatriation a week ago and would now proceed to send workers home next Friday.

Gama denied it was threatening to return workers as a result of this week’s protests. “Gama has also informed the minister that it rejects the innuendo that the company has an ulterior motive over and above normal commercial practice for repatriating these workers,” the statement said.

Gama and the Government face each other in the High Court on Monday as an injunction preventing publication of a Labour Inspectorate report into allegations of wage fraud and underpayment expires.