Town centre cafe featured on hit TV series told to pay out to ex-worker
Amico Cafe on Corporation Street, Bolton, was taken to an Employment Tribunal by K Azad, on October 15 last year.
Mr Azad alleged that the cafe had not paid some of his wages and holiday pay.
Companies House reports that the director of the company was Anastasia Rotaru until November 8 last year.
It was then changed to Saj Islam.
In his ruling, Employment Judge Phil Allen said: “The complaint of unauthorised deduction from wages is well-founded. The respondent made an unauthorised deduction from the claimant’s wages and is ordered to pay the claimant the gross sum of £1,098.24.
“The complaint in respect of holiday pay is well-founded. The respondent did not pay the claimant the pay due to him for accrued but untaken annual leave under the Working Time Regulations 1998 and is ordered to pay the gross sum of £1,299.58.”
Speaking after the hearing, Mr Azad said: “I was shocked, it was a relief.
“My dad came with me, I had never been to court before in my life.
“The judge asked me for my wage slips and worked it out. The cafe had 42 days to appeal the tribunal and nobody appealed in that time.”
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Mr Azad says that he has not been paid since the hearing.
The Bolton News has seen documentation to say that bailiffs have been instructed in this case.
Amico did not attend the hearing, with “no response having been submitted”.
(Image: BBC/Lookout Point/AMC)
However, the management of the cafe said that they were not aware of the proceedings, due to a change of ownership at that time.
Mr Islam told The Bolton News: “There was a change in ownership of the company and it was too late by the time we received the documents.”
He added that he is trying to “sort out” the situation and that Mr Azad will be paid.
Mr Islam claims that the wages owed are less than those awarded to Mr Azad by the employment tribunal.
He said he would be looking to reopen proceedings, but the Employment Tribunal service confirmed that there are no further ongoing proceedings in the case.
Companies House states Mr Islam resigned on January 17, 2025. The director is now Marry Belgira.
Its name was also changed from ‘Amico Coffee Limited’ to ‘Ceased Trading 10670529 Limited’, but its company status remains ‘Active’ on Companies House.
It has now been taken over by Anglo American Acquisitions Limited, according to Companies House.
The Bolton News has attempted to contact Anglo American Acquisitions Limited.
Source – INDIA TV
