Redundant staff forced to wait months for entitlements

WORKERS of bankrupt employers are being forced to wait months for statutory entitlements such as wage arrears and holiday pay.

According to figures from Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Billy Kelleher, claims for the payments, made under the Insolvency Payments Scheme, have increased by more than 100% in 2008.

Fine Gael spokesperson on regional development and affairs Paul Connaughton, who raised the matter in the Dáil last week, said a constituent of his has been waiting since November to be paid.