Two South African women who claimed they were sacked after Department of Enterprise inspectors visited the supermarket where they worked will renew a picket at the premises if not paid wages due to them.
Ms Ilse de Goede (22) and Ms Maryna Veer Maack (24) said they were given a week's notice the evening after inspectors from the Department visited the Londis Top Shop in Hayestown, Navan, Co Meath, where they worked up to 65 hours a week.
Ms Angela Gordon, who runs the shop, denied that she sacked the women, and said she had to give them a week's protective notice because she was giving up the lease on the shop.
The two women held a four-hour picket outside the shop earlier this week, supported by SIPTU, and will protest again if not paid €300 in wages plus holiday entitlement.
Ms Gordon, who insisted the money would be paid, also denied claims that the two women were forced to stay in accommodation she provided at a charge of €100 a week.
The arrangement was part of the agreement made by the recruitment agency when they started working for her, she said.
Ms Gordon declined to comment on the workers' allegations that they received no overtime payment despite their 60- or 65-hour weeks.
"I can't speak about that," she said. "It's with the Department at the moment."
Mr Anton McCabe, chairman of the Meath Council of Trade Unions, and a SIPTU official, reported Ms Gordon to the Department of Enterprise. He said the two women were paid €6.60 an hour, slightly above the minimum wage, but got no time and a half, double time or Sunday premium payment for their work.
Ms de Goede said they had complained because "we couldn't stick it out any more".
She said: "We had to stay with her and pay €100 a week for bunk-beds and no access to the kitchen. Every time there was something wrong with the till we had to pay, and if a roast burnt in the oven we had to pay."
Ms Gordon has rejected the allegations as outrageous. She said the women had their own sitting room, TV, cooking facilities and the free use of a car.
