Fears grow for more than 100 La Senza Irish workers

FEARS were mounting for the jobs of more than 100 Irish people employed by lingerie chain La Senza after the company fell into administration yesterday.

Administrator KPMG said it had closed 84 stores and 18 concessions, resulting in more than half of the workforce losing their jobs across Britain and Ireland.

The company is set to close some of its 15 Irish stores, with three in Grafton St and Liffey Valley in Dublin, as well as Mahon Point in Cork expected to close. Some of its four concessions in various Debenhams are also to close.

It is understood that employees received calls yesterday evening from administrator KPMG and told their contracts had been terminated and not to show for work in the morning as they would not be paid. It is believed some staff have not been paid for overtime work in December and will receive statutory redundancy.

One employee who spoke to the Irish Examiner on condition of anonymity said employees were upset by the “underhanded” manner in which they had been treated.

“KPMG called me to say that my contract was terminated and to not bother turning up for work in the morning and I was told to inform my staff of this also. We had no warning or communication. Nothing,” she said.

About 1,100 jobs at the company were saved when 60 stores were bought by an Arabian retail group Alshaya, which owns stakes in several British retailers including Next, Debenhams and Mothercare.

It bought the stores in a controversial “pre-pack” administration deal that allows the assets of companies to be snapped up while its debts are written off.