Payday at last as Gama workers get lost wages

ALMOST 700 Gama workers have received an unexpected windfall of up to €20 million in lost wages from bank accounts in the Netherlands.

The accounts, in the Dutch-based Finansbank, were first uncovered 10 days ago after Socialist Party leader Joe Higgins travelled to Amsterdam with former Gama workers.

But as inspectors from the Government’s Labour Inspectorate prepare to travel to Amsterdam to ensure all accounts are made available, the bank confirmed yesterday that close to 700 accounts have already been paid out.

In a call to Finansbank yesterday morning, Enterprise Minister Mícheál Martin was told the bank had received instructions through Gama on behalf of 660 employees wishing to access their accounts.

Finansbank estimated that funds in all 660 accounts would have been received by workers before the close of business yesterday.

The development comes after the Irish Ambassador to the Netherlands formally contacted Finansbank yesterday morning in relation to the scandal involving accounts set up without the knowledge of employees.

Up to €40m in workers’ money is estimated to be held in as many as 2,000 accounts belonging to past and present Gama workers.

In a deal set up by Gama, the workers’ money was deposited monthly in Finansbank before being transferred to a company called Ryder Investments.

Mr Martin yesterday confirmed Labour Inspectorate officials will shortly travel to Amsterdam with workers’ representatives to ensure all remaining funds can be accessed.

Before a meeting with the Turkish Workers Action Group (TWAG) yesterday evening, Mr Martin said it was his objective that all Gama’s workers receive their money as soon as possible. Senior management from Gama in Turkey are also to meet the minister before the weekend.

“It infuriates me when I hear of instances of deliberate mistreatment which do a great disservice to Ireland and our people. People who carry on such practices are preying on the inexperienced and vulnerable. Such people are despicable and have no place in Irish society,” he said.

Although Gama yesterday obtained a second temporary injunction preventing publication of a Labour Inspectorate report into allegations first made by Mr Higgins, Mr Martin said he fully accepted the report’s recommendations that further investigations into Gama be carried out by “other departments, the Revenue, the gardaí and a range of regulatory bodies”.

As hundreds of Gama workers continued their 10-day occupation of Dublin building sites last night, the company again denied all allegations against it.

“Gama is a long-term major investor in Ireland and intends to defend its reputation,” a statement said.