Gama slams 'false allegations and innuendo'

Construction company Gama Endustri has slammed allegations that it has paid its Turkish workers €2 to €3 per hour, that employees have worked excessive hours or that there are any unpaid wages.

The company also denied that employees do not have access to their money in their Dutch bank accounts.

A report on the treatment of Turkish workers by Gama has not been published as Gama is taking High Court proceedings in an attempt to prevent it from being made public. Enterprise Minister Micheal Martin today told the Seanad that he will be giving a report to the Gardaí and the Revenue Commissioners.

Meanwhile, Gama issued a rebuttal of the allegations today, saying: "The facts are as follows:

- Gama’s current minimum hourly rates for construction workers are €12.96, in full compliance with the Registered Employment Agreement for the construction industry. Under this agreement no construction workers can be paid less than this rate and many are paid at higher rates.

- Each Turkish construction employee receives his full salary based on these rates. This is paid in a number of different tranches, as follows:

A portion is paid directly to the employee in Ireland in cash, after deductions for PAYE, PRSI and board.

A portion is paid directly into each employees personal bank accounts in Turkey to cover family or other needs, less Turkish tax and social insurance

A portion is paid directly into each employees personal bank accounts in a Dutch bank under the remittance basis of taxation without any deductions."

Gama went on to insist "Gama’s Turkish construction employees are remunerated generously and are not underpaid. Irish construction industry rates are among the highest in Europe and are far higher than Turkish workers would get in Turkey.

"There are no unpaid wages. All wages due have been fully paid, either directly or by transfer into the bank accounts of each employee in Turkey and Holland.

"The money in the Dutch bank account is fully and irrevocably available to each employee at any time. Suggestions that employees cannot access their own accounts are not true. The bank has confirmed that many employees have already accessed their accounts and drawn down their funds."

Gama added: "The size of Gama’s Turkish workforce in Ireland and their work permits are dependent on the work contracts the company has in hand. As work permits expire on a time basis or as contracts come to an end, Turkish employees are repatriated.

"Gama is currently in that situation with over 130 of its existing workforce. The recent protests commenced as Gama was finalising arrangements to repatriate these employees.

"Gama believes their natural fears and apprehensions about repatriation have been heightened by the current controversy. In addition, some of these workers would like to have the opportunity to stay in Ireland and Gama cannot offer them this opportunity."