Cork TD Mick Barry says the job losses at the Butcher's Block in Cork highlights the lack of workers' rights when it comes to liquidation.
Staff at the outlets in Blackpool Shopping Centre and Douglas Court shopping centre were informed of the closure at the weekend, with some staff only learning of the closure by text shortly before they were due to start work.
In a letter to staff the company say cannot pay any entitlements to employees, such as holiday leave, back pay or redundancy, due to its dire financial position.
Socialist Party TD Mick Barry says the way staff have been treated is 'disgraceful'.
"Workers at The Butcher's Block have been treated disgracefully by their employer and it is doubly disgraceful in that the Government have failed to put in place the protections that are needed for workers in a liquidation situation.
"The 'Debenhams Bill' needs to become the law of the land and I will be writing to the Oireachtas Enterprise Trade and Employment Committee today asking them to speed up their work in relation to it."
