Every effort must be made to save jobs at Debenhams
ALMOST two weeks since Debenhams announced it is closing all 11 of it’s Irish outlets, staff at the Tralee branch say they have heard nothing from the company and they remain completely in the dark about what their future holds.
Around 150 Kerry workers are affected by the closure of the Debenham’s outlet in Manor West including the department store’s staff; cleaning workers and those employed in a cafe run by the British owned retail chain which had provisional liquidators appointed to it by the High Court last Thursday.
The workers comprises of 20 full time and 43 part time staff who were working directly for Debenhams and around 40 staff who were employed by brands such as Oasis ,Warehouse, Topshop and Craghopper who had operated concession stands in the department store.
Both Oasis and Warehouse – which are part of the same fashion group – also had liquidators appointed to them last Thursday in a move separate to Debenhams Ireland.
Nationwide more than 2,000 workers have been affected by Debenhams sudden closure, a massive unemployment crisis that in more normal times would dominate headlines and public debate.
Unfortunately the COVID-19 crisis means we are living in anything but ‘normal times’ and as a result many Debenham’s workers feel their plight is being forgotten or, worse still, ignored.
Last Thursday around 40 Debenhams workers gathered outside the store in Manor West – obeying social distancing measures – for an unofficial protest to highlight their situation and the lack of help they are receiving from the company and the Government.
KERRY Fianna Fáil TD Norma Foley says every effort should be made to save jobs at retail chain Debenhams.
The Irish arm of the UK department store chain became the highest profile business casualty of the COVID-19 crisis to date when it announced a fortnight ago that it is to close all 11 of it’s outlets in the Republic.
Those outlets include a substantial store at Manor West in Tralee where around 100 jobs will be lost as a result of the closure.
Joint Provisional Liquidators were appointed in the High Court last Thursday to Debenhams Retail Ireland Ltd.
Deputy Foley – who along with Fianna Fáil Finance spokesman Deputy Michael McGrth has been in contact with joint liquidator Kieran Wallace of KPMG – says every possible effort should be made to save the chain or some of its individual outlets.
She pointed to the fact that Debenham’s Irish website continues to trade and that the most of the chain’s shops in the UK – which are also in liquidation – are still expected to reopen once the Coronavirus restrictions have been lifted.
It was emphasised to Mr Wallace by the Fianna Fáil deputies that the key objective should be to avoid full closure if at all possible.
“The closure of Debenhams in
Tralee is a huge blow to workers who are rightly angered at how it has been handled after years of loyal and dedicated service to the company”, said Deputy Foley.
“Mr Wallace confirmed Irish employees will be communicated with and I would hope this communication includes provision for a 30 day consultation process that must be held, and information about the payment of entitlements that are due to workers,” she said.
Deputy Foley said she has written directly to Minister Heather Humphreys and Minister Regina Doherty regarding the options and supports are available to Debenhams workers going forward.
“We should not give up the fight to keep Debenhams in Tralee” said Deputy Norma Foley “and equally so support in every way possible Debenhams ‘ workers at this very challenging time”