Cost Pro Workers Fear They Will Not Receive Severance After Supermarket's Abrupt Closure

Employees of the now-shuttered Cost Pro Supermarket are expressing serious concern that they may never receive wages and benefits owed to them, following the company's sudden closure and their abrupt termination. According to Antigua News Room, workers were handed termination letters after being recalled to the Woods Mall location the same evening they had completed a normal workday.

"We left as normal. We were told by other staff that Cost Pro was closing its doors to come for letter," one employee said. "Majority of us showed up back today, tonight, actually, to get this letter."

The employee also raised doubts about the legitimacy of the redundancy notice, pointing out that it lacked a management signature. "This letter is saying termination. It doesn't say closure. It doesn't headline this. It doesn't even say who's management," the worker said. Staff were told that the manager refused to sign the document and would only stamp it, and that final cheques would be available for collection at a later date.

Deepening the anxiety among staff are allegations of a similar past incident involving another business linked to the same owner. "We've had this problem with Mr. Duggins with his other establishment. They come to work a day and the doors are closed. As to payment of their money, salaries, or years of service owed, they did not receive," the employee alleged.

Long-serving staff members are said to be particularly worried about whether they will receive their full entitlements. "How are we sure that we're going to get what is due to us, especially those who have worked nine plus years here?" the employee asked.

In its termination letter, Cost Pro stated that the supermarket had permanently ceased operations and that all positions had been made redundant. The company indicated that salaries would be paid up to July 9, and that a final payment statement — including any vacation pay, notice pay, and severance where applicable — would be issued by July 17. Workers were also instructed to return all company property by that date.