Barbieru files lawsuit against Seigla for unpaid wages in Iceland

Constantin Barbieru Manolache has filed a lawsuit against the staffing agency Seigla, seeking unpaid wages. He claims that he did not receive his final month’s pay after leaving Seigla in March 2023. Barbieru brought five colleagues from his hometown in Romania to work with him at Seigla, and they, too, have not received their wages.

Feeling responsible for his colleagues, Barbieru decided to share his story, stating that Seigla and its owner, Halla Rut Bjarnadóttir, are “playing with people’s lives.” He emphasizes that many individuals are in similar situations but are hesitant to speak out due to language barriers and fear of repercussions.

His legal case, supported by the labor union Hlíf in Hafnarfjörður, could set a precedent for other employees facing similar issues. According to his lawyer, Leifur Gunnarsson, the lawsuit could benefit many other workers from various European countries who have also raised complaints against Seigla.

On the other hand, Seigla’s lawyer, Skúli Sveinsson, argues that the case centers on whether Barbieru was hired for a 70% or 100% position. He claims that a clerical error led to Barbieru being mistakenly contracted for a full-time role when the intention was to offer him a part-time position.

The spotlight on staffing agencies in Iceland has intensified following a recent episode of Kveikur, a news program that addressed various labor rights violations associated with these companies, prompting many affected individuals to come forward.