Woman fights to get back £1,200 wages from Chester firm

Oct 6 2011 by David Holmes, Chester Chronicle

Woman fights to get back £1,200 wages

A YOUNG woman is fighting to retrieve £1,200 unpaid wages because the company has not complied with a court order.

Kaylee Morris, 23, worked for Sapphire Blue Consultancy Ltd, at Bell Meadow business park, Pulford, but company director Adrian John Park claims the firm can’t pay because it is no longer trading.

However, the Companies House database indicated the firm is still active.

Employment tribunal judge P Davies has ordered the company to pay the £1,200 to Miss Morris which he described as ‘an unlawful deduction from wages’.

Kaylee, 23, of Willaston, who now works in a Chester clothes store, said: “It’s had a huge impact on me. I have been struggling so much for the last 10 months. I’m renting a house with my partner and I’ve got a car to run – £1,200 is a lot of money.

“I have had to talk about moving back in with my parents. We can’t afford to live together.”

Kaylee only worked for the firm from October 4 until November 18 last year but left after feeling uneasy about the way the firm operated.

The Chronicle spoke to Mr Park of Chetwyn Court, Gresford, at the Bell Meadow office where Kaylee used to work, saying he was now an employee of I Want To Study Ltd.

He said: “The official receivers have been appointed by the court (for Sapphire Blue). She has the first claim. My understanding is that employment claims are paid out first.”

Last year The Chronicle reported Mr Park was facing extradition to the Philippines accused of illegal recruitment.

But Mr Park said: “We were not recruiting in the Philippines,” and that the case had been discontinued. Unwilling to provide written confirmation, he added: “It was dropped, it was nothing.”