Staff at bankrupt Moviflor furniture outlets throughout Portugal will be coming out on strike on Sunday. At issue are the non-payment of wages and bonuses – and the fact that bosses are planning mass-layoffs in a bid to make up debts of over €147 million.
Público newspaper reports that Moviflor has more than 1,400 creditors and in May this year took advantage of PER, the government’s “special revitalisation programme” for bankrupt companies, which has since recommended the closure of a number of shops as well as the laying-off of over 300 of the 900-strong workforce.
One of the company’s outlets has already been shut-down, and 14 staff made redundant.
Workers’ union CESP has informed the Economy and Employment ministries of the upcoming strike, saying it “demands the viability of the business, the maintenance of all jobs and the payment of salaries and bonuses in arrears”.
Moviflor is reported to have said that PER gives them six months leeway to come up with back-pay and bonuses.
