13th August
Debonair languages goes into administration
potentially leaving thousands 'in limbo'
THOUSANDS of highly skilled interpreters and translators could be left
unpaid after the collapse of a languages agency.
Debonair Languages
this week confirmed that it has gone into administration after ceasing
operations on August 5.
The Chorley Old
Road-based business had thousands of linguists working across the country on
its books.
They fulfilled
contracts in sectors including corporate, education, medical and legal services
for clients such as the Ministry of Justice and one of the UK’s biggest
specialist language agencies thebigword.
It also operates a
recruitment section to help bilingual, multilingual and international
candidates into careers.
Prior to the
announcement of Debonair’s collapse, linguists working for the company received
an email informing them the agency had ceased booking operations and thanking
them for their services.
It added that the company
had secured an agreement with thebigword to make linguist payments.
However many complained
they were unable to get in touch with Debonair to discuss their payment.
One former agent, Mian
Saleem, who worked in interpreting Urdu and Punjabi for Debonair in courts and
tribunals in London said he is still owed around £780 by the company.
He added: “Debonair is not
telling us what the situation is all this time and we are in absolute limbo.
“We have got expenses.
People have to pay rent and mortgages. They have to look after their families
and their homes, then all of a sudden this happens.”
Richard Rodriguez told The
Bolton News he is similarly owed around £300 for eight jobs he has recently
undertaken interpreting Slovak, Hungarian and Czech for Debonair around Greater
Manchester.
Mr Rodriquez had been on
holiday in Spain when he received the email for the company.
He said: “I’m not owed a
huge amount of money but it did make things difficult. I had to ask my family
to lend me some money because of this.
“Some of the jobs I have
taken have been as a crematorium interpreter or for mental health and it can be
emotional and hard work. So you expect to be paid for it.”
In the meantime
payment of agents and the fulfilment of commissions agreed by Debonair after
August 5 will now be transferred to thebigword.
However for bookings
made prior to that date thebigword remains responsible to pay Debonair for them
and therefore Debonair is obligated to pay its linguists, says thebigword.
A spokesman for
thebigword said: “thebigword has put in measures to support linguists that had
been working with Debonair and, where possible, welcome them to the other roles
in thebigword community.”
Debonair was set up
in the 1970s after founder, Visvalingam “Mani” Manivannan moved to Bolton from
Sri Lanka.
After a brief spell
in Manchester the company returned to Bolton in 2015, initially based at St
Andrew’s Court and later at Peel House.
Only earlier this
year the firm unveiled further expansion plans announcing the launch of its
first franchise in Cumbria in May and a German speaking customer services role
in June.
Debonair Languages
has been approached for comment.
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