Students have announced a protest against retail chain Studenc after it was revealed on Monday evening that their September wages had not been paid. The group comprises around 800 students, and according to their calculations, the average individual debt is approximately €1,000, with the total amount of debt reaching around €800,000.
Studenc apologised to students on Tuesday morning for the delay in paying compensation for their work in September. The company explained that the opening of pre-bankruptcy proceedings triggered legal restrictions on settling obligations incurred before the proceedings began. These restrictions also affected the method of settling obligations towards student centres, through which student compensation is calculated and paid.
Pre-bankruptcy proceedings against Studenc have been ongoing at the Commercial Court in Split since 29 September. The company, headquartered in Omiš, has more than 1,000 stores. Due to legal obligations associated with pre-bankruptcy proceedings, it was necessary to obtain approval for the direct settlement of obligations towards student centres for work performed up to 29 September.
The company received this approval yesterday in the late afternoon and this morning requested that student centres submit invoices as soon as possible so that payments could begin immediately. Studenc stated that students are an extremely important part of their business and that compensation for their work will be paid within the shortest possible timeframe.
Students announced on Monday evening that they would organise a protest if their wages were not paid promptly. They also announced an 'uprising' against Studenc, with the debt figures based on their own calculations.
