Protest organized by Efling labor union highlights wage theft allegations at Italia restaurant in Iceland

A protest organized by the Efling labor union took place last Thursday outside the Italian restaurant, Italia, highlighting serious allegations of wage theft against its staff. The incident came to light after several workers sought assistance from Efling due to delayed and unpaid wages.

Erik Kristovco, a former employee from Slovakia who worked at Antico, a restaurant owned by the same parent company as Italia, shared his troubling experience. He reported consistent issues with late payments and ultimately did not receive his final month’s salary. He also mentioned that his personal tax deductions were incorrectly handled.

Erik’s situation is part of a broader problem where foreign workers at Italia and affiliated venues face similar challenges. Efling has criticized the owner of Italia, Elvar Ingimarsson, for these repeated offenses against employees.

Halldór Oddsson, head of labor law at the Icelandic Confederation of Labor (ASÍ), underscored the seriousness of the situation, labeling it as disturbingly common. He emphasized that addressing such injustices is a major focus for unions, especially between collective bargaining agreements. He called for a collective effort to combat these issues and ensure fair treatment for workers.

This incident reflects ongoing labor disputes in the hospitality sector and raises questions about the rights and protections afforded to foreign employees in Iceland.