Workers have often been left vulnerable, especially in times of crisis. When a business becomes insolvent, it is not just about profits or corporate failure; workers are thrown into turmoil. For decades, workers, particularly the lowest paid and most vulnerable among them, have called for support and fairness from the Government. Time and again, low-paid workers have been on the front line. Those working in retail, hospitality, cleaning and other essential sectors have protested and demanded that their voices be heard. I heard of a case last week where employees showed up for work to find the business they work at closed, with the employer uncontactable. These workers do not know where they stand now and are due wages, holiday pay and fair redundancy payments. They lost their jobs, their livelihoods and their dignity when their employer closed the business and did not have the respect to update them. What is often overlooked is that these workers have consistently called on the Government to stand with them, protect their rights and ensure they are not left behind. For years, workers have protested on the streets, demanding support, fair treatment and that those who profit from their labour do not walk away without consequences. They have called for better protections, fair entitlement payments and the security they deserve as workers. Time and again, Sinn Féin has stood shoulder to shoulder with them, advocating, fighting and demanding that their voices be heard. We supported low-paid workers when they called for fairness, staged protests and demanded justice. We have championed their right to fair wages, decent working conditions and protection when their employers abandon their responsibilities. The cases of Clerys and Debenhams are stark reminders of how corporate greed and tactics such as tactical liquidations have been used to avoid obligations to workers. It is also worth noting what the Fastway workers are going through currently. Franchise holders that operated under the name of Fastway are being screwed. Many of them had vans on finance, employees working for them and huge overheads. They are being poorly treated and they do not know where they stand as legislation offers little or no support for them. Legislation also does very little and offers no protections for employees of subcontractors or outsourced workers, such as the case involving the Covalen staff. We acknowledge the Bill is about ensuring that, even if a business ceases trading informally and without going through a formal liquidation, workers can still claim their unpaid wages and entitlements from the insolvency payments scheme. It is about justice, dignity and making sure those who have worked hard, often in low-paid jobs, are not left to suffer alone when their employer walks away. Fairness should never be limited by outdated legal technicalities. The Bill extends protections to the most vulnerable, including sole traders and those facing gender discrimination. We have always believed that legislation must prioritise workers' rights, especially during their most vulnerable moments when a company is in insolvency. Insolvency is very often driven by rising costs, costs that the Government has failed to address adequately, such as high gas and electricity prices. This Bill promises that, when businesses shut up shop, employees are not forgotten about and ensures they do not have to bear the burden alone. That is why we welcome the Bill, but we remain steadfast that workers' rights must be strengthened at all times.

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