Gama, the Turkish firm at the centre of a scandal over underpayments of overtime, has agreed to pay remaining construction workers compensation, it emerged today.
Under a deal brokered at the Labour Court, employees were to be given €8,000 per year of service and one month's extra salary following a dispute over wages and working hours.
Noel Dowling, SIPTU's national industrial secretary, said Gama had agreed to give remaining employees at sites in Ennis, Co Clare and Tynagh, Co Galway, the lump sum payment.
He said strike action had been narrowly avoided with workers being fully paid according to Labour Court recommendations issued two months ago.
Gama workers began a seven week long dispute at a number of sites last April over claims of harassment and intimidation after they alleged they were working up to 80 hours a week without full overtime pay.
"While the Labour Court recommendation was issued in respect of those workers who had taken strike action against Gama last April/May, management has now accepted that its terms should also apply to its remaining workforce," Mr Dowling said.
"This means that each worker will receive €8,000 per year of service as compensation for overtime worked up to March 2005, plus one additional month's salary."
Mr Dowling said all Turkish workers were now receiving the agreed Construction Industry Registered Employment Agreement rates of pay and proper wage slips. And he said Gama management had also undertaken to ensure that all of its subcontractors were fully compliant with the terms of the registered employment agreement.