Former employees claim Toronto restaurant owes thousands in unpaid wages
Posted November 21, 2017 3:33 pm.
Last Updated November 21, 2017 11:00 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Former employees of the Green Republic Food Co. claim they’re short thousands of dollars in unpaid wages from the popular downtown Toronto lunch spot.
Former kitchen manager Simon Cheung, along with staffers Stephanie Levi and Nathalie Mattson, claim they’re owed a total of about $4,700. And they say the restaurant has had long-running issues with paying employees on time, if at all.
“It’s not just me but employees I’ve hired,” Cheung said. “Everybody has had pay issues.”
According to the former staffers, the point person for payment is Abdi Ghotb, Green Republic’s chef and consultant.
The restaurant’s publicist Kam Chuhan said the company has paid everyone in full and has financial statements to prove it.
Green Republic failed to produce the documents as requested.
Ontario’s Ministry of Labour confirmed two claims have been filed against Green Republic — on Aug. 24 and Oct. 11 — for a total of around $3,000.
It could be months before the ministry decides whether to prosecute. If the restaurant is found guilty, the maximum penalty is a $50,000 fine and/or 12 months in jail.
Cheung said he received a quarter of what he’s owed Tuesday afternoon. Mattson said she still hasn’t received any funds from the company.
Ghotb was not available for comment.
