By KHRISNA VIRGIL
Tribune Staff Reporter
kvirgil@tribunemedia.net
FORMER employees of the Hard Rock Café were yesterday urged to report to the Department of Labour and file any complaints regarding the entitlements that they are due in accordance with the law.
Speaking to reporters at Parliament, Labour Minister Shane Gibson said he was “disappointed” that the franchise holder did not give the Department of Labour requisite notice of their intentions to close.
He said incidents such as the Hard Rock’s sudden closure among others, highlighted the need for reforms to redundancy laws.
On Tuesday, 38 employees of the Café were terminated when they reported for work. They were all informed during a 9am meeting that the restaurant was going into voluntary liquidation.
Later, several of the employees told The Tribune that they were uncertain of when or whether they would receive compensation.
Mr Gibson said: “I am very disappointed that in the case of the Hard Rock Café that it was not formally brought to my attention. I think I learned about it through someone who mentioned it to me. We then had the director of the Department of Labour try to contact the employers to see whether or not the employees are being taken advantage of, whether or not they are being paid in accordance of the law or in accordance with the terms of conditions of employment in their individual contracts.
“In the case of Hard Rock Café I am not sure who the owners are, whether or not they are local or foreigners, but certainly if they are locals we have a bit more time to pursue them. If they are foreigners they might just decide to pack up and leave.
“That is why we have been working on looking at the redundancy laws and policies to make sure foreign employers in particular don’t come to the Bahamas, take advantage of employees, walk away and leave them owing tens of thousands, some times hundreds of thousands of dollars.
“But, unless it is brought to our attention, and a trade dispute is brought to our attention officially, it makes it more difficult. We can pursue it if we hear about it, but it makes it easier to pursue whenever a trade dispute is filed.”
In the meantime, Mr Gibson said the employees are entitled to receiving National Insurance unemployment benefits which depends on the entitlements they received from their employer.
“The benefits kick in at different times when you receive redundancy payments. Of course, you don’t get a second set of payment right away. But I would encourage those employees to approach NIB immediately so they could know exactly what their right benefits and entitlements are,” Mr Gibson said.
Comments
Thinker 10 years, 1 month ago
Wow, laws for closing a business. Laws for opening a business. Laws for being in business. No laws for protecting a business. Did the employees get paid their salaries? Then, move along, you had your notice. Keep moving forward, find the next restaurant job.
The_Oracle 10 years, 1 month ago
Is it not a PLP stalwart who is the Bahamian owner? Hmmmm, this could get tricky. Yet another burning bush.
TalRussell 10 years, 1 month ago
Minister Shane, what PLP office can an old Comrade Sister who almost got swindled out her land, go to to file a complaint?
moncurcool 10 years, 1 month ago
Please help me understand what is happening here. The minister indicates that he had the department of labour contact the employers to see if the employees were being taken advantage of. Yet in the same breath he indicates they do not know who the owners are. Are you serious?
BahamianAway 10 years, 1 month ago
Isn't The Bahamas a right to work country...then that means if the employer gave them proper notice and they were properly compensated for any time they had worked up to the closing they aren't entitled to JACKSQUAT.
They must think they are the only people to ever lose a job, stop bitching and crying and go put in an application elsewhere. Collect your unemployment from NIB and look to getting a new job. Stop always crying to the government looking for a fix....right this minute they looking to get settlements from this company.
The place is close- they probably won't be reopening, GO AND LOOK FOR A NEW JOB.
GrassRoot 10 years, 1 month ago
The Bahamas is not a right to work but rather a right to salary country. However there are just too many entrepreneurs outthere that don't give a rats behind about the well being of their staff.
TheObserver 10 years, 1 month ago
Ummm where was this enthusiasm during the City Markets debacle (that STILL exists with NO resolution)?! Might I add that the owners are/were LOCAL and shouldn't be too hard to pursue but they ARE known PLP's and we all know how THAT goes when the PLP in govt! Clowns!
wearedone 10 years, 1 month ago
We had been to this place a few times. Maybe if the staff work as hard while they were being paid as they are now complaining the place might not have closed. The service was horrible and many of the servers were rude but then again thats pretty much normal around here.
sheeprunner12 10 years, 1 month ago
This is so hilarious!!!!!!!!!!!
Perry, Obie and Doc may all kind of hullabaloo about opening one hotel
Shane, Melanie and LilBrave crying over no jobs and UR2.0.........
And GB woes continue............... just another day in Paradise
The_Oracle 10 years, 1 month ago
Where is Anna Nicole when you really need her.............
TheMadHatter 10 years, 1 month ago
Perhaps MP Gibson should encourage Bahamians NOT to work for foreign employers at all. LOL. We are an INDEPENDENT country - which we celebrate every July 10th. We don't need no stinkin' foreigners !!!! LOL.
Bahamians can work for all the BIG Bahamian restaurants and hotels - LOL LOL LOL x 1000.
One thing they ain't gotta worry about being shut down - and that's the baby factory. it runs 24-7.
TheMadHatter
banker 10 years, 1 month ago
You notice that all that Shame Gibson can say to any issue is "File A Labour Complaint"?
Business close? File a labour complaint. Hotel layoff? File a labour complaint. Porn star gets visa in one day? File a labour complaint. Housing ministry tiefed of millions? File a labour complaint. Minister gets Rolex watch as bribe -- File a labour complaint. Here's the best one -- sweetheart git pregnant while giving front -- FILE A LABOUR COMPLAINT!
Bahamianpride 10 years, 1 month ago
The welfare state mentality, petition the government for all life's happenings...
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