I was working to survive and I wasn't paid
Several hospitality workers are speaking out after being denied final wages by their former employers. The report highlights a rising trend in workplace disputes and the emotional and financial toll on employees left without pay.
Why it matters
It underscores the growing instability in the hospitality sector and the difficulties workers face when seeking legal recourse for unpaid wages.
Figure caption, Watch: Three people who say they are owed wages tell the BBC about their experiences
What happens when your boss is also the HR department, the grievance handler and the person deciding whether you get paid?
"I just want my wages. It's my hard work. I just want what I'm owed."
Sonia Garcia Monuz is one of several workers trying to recover money she believes she is owed by a catering firm based in Berkshire.
Latest figures show early conciliation cases involving unpaid wages rose by about 17% between 2024 and 2025, according to Acas – the independent body that helps resolve workplace disputes.
Acas says nearly half of hospitality workers, 49%, experience problems at work.
Sonia began working as a full-time chef at Viking Catering Ltd in June 2024 and says the first six months were positive.
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