A migrant worker has told the Workplace Relations Commission that his former security company employer was in the practice of not paying people who "have a deficiency of the English language".

In a complaint under the Payment of Wages Act 1991, James Ajibola has alleged that his former employer, BGS Security Ltd (BGSS) hired him in July 2024, but paid him nothing for around 230 hours of work guarding shops in Dublin city centre before he eventually quit last September…

The company failed to appear before the Workplace Relations Commission earlier this week for a hearing into Mr Ajibola's statutory complaint today at the WRC…

He said his rate of pay was meant to be €14.50 an hour and that he had worked some 230 hours for the firm - leaving him short around €3,400, accounting for Sundays and public holidays….

Mr Ajibola told the tribunal he worked a mix of day and night shifts as a security guard at various shops in the Dublin area as an employee of BGSS.

The client sites included a Spar on Dame Street and a Supervalu on Aston Quay, as well as the Great Outdoors sports shop on George’s Street in Dublin 2, and other convenience stores in Finglas and Lucan…