Former Mivan workers win payout

Former employees of Northern Ireland construction firm Mivan have won around £360,000 after the firm made them redundant without consultation.

The payout will be awarded to 141 workers who sought compensation at an industrial tribunal.

The former employees of the Antrim-based company are due to receive approximately £2,500 each after they were made redundant without warning when the company went into administration in January 2014.

The compensation awards will be paid by the Redundancy Payments Service, as the Mivan trading company that employed the workers is insolvent.

Mivan, which specialised in high-end and cruise ship fit-outs, axed 289 jobs earlier this year when it fell into administration, with Deloitte appointed administrator.

Acting on behalf of the workers, solicitors Thompsons NI successfully argued the workers were entitled to a protective award as they were not consulted prior to being made redundant.

Union Ucatt helped bring the action on behalf of the former Mivan workers.

Thompsons NI urged other former Mivan workers who were not involved in the tribunal action to also bring claims.

The Mivan brand and some of its assets - including the firm’s 120,000 sq ft joinery factory in County Antrim -were bought out of administration by Northern Irish businessman Brian McConville later in January, but he could not retain any Mivan staff.

Speaking to Building this week, McConville confirmed all Mivan’s staff had been made redundant prior to his purchase of the brand and assets.

Mivan relaunched in February under a new structure and management team.

McConville said: “I’m delighted to say Mivan is now 102-strong - with 70% of these former Mivan staff who have been re-employed - and the firm made a profit this year.”

McConville also owns fellow Northern Irish fit-out firm MJM.

Deloitte has been contacted for comment.