Now they claim their boss owes wages, plus insurance and pension contributions they say were not up to date.

It is believed the struggling Arcade restaurant in Hamilton, run by former chef Mr. Robert Buser, has gone into receivership.

Short order cook Ms Valerie Burch says Mr. Buser has left his five workers with a bad taste in their mouths.

"Everybody's disappointed, because I feel that he knew what was going on and never informed any of the staff, because when we all left on Friday he told us he he'd see us tomorrow, meaning Saturday.

"He gave us the impression we were open instead of just coming out and saying the place was going to be closed.'' Ms Burch, 38, is eight months pregnant. She had been planning to work "right up to time'', she said.

"Everybody else is in the position where they can look for another job, but I'm not.

"He didn't even have the decency to call me on the Saturday. I was dressed and almost ready to go to the door when I got a call saying `don't waste your time, there are different locks on the door'.

"You don't run a business like that. I would never work for anybody like that again.'' Ms Burch said she was owed three weeks' pay, three weeks' vacation money and cash for maternity leave.

"I really only want what I've worked for and what's due to me.'' The workers were all paid cash and only one got a pay slip, she said.

The restaurant has been owned by Mr. Buser and Mrs. Susan Buser for about five years.

Last week Mr. Buser told The Royal Gazette that renovation work at the Walker Arcade had slashed business by half.

He had cut his staff from 10 to five. And he feared the business might have to be sold or face closure.

He added: "The building's owners wanted to do a major overhaul of the area.

It's beautiful and I appreciate their plan.

"But in the process I'm now losing a thousand dollars a day. That's what I've been losing for the last 41 days.

"It took us five years to be able to pay bills steadily. And that momentum has now been shot.'' He admitted the company might have been underfinanced from the beginning.

He could not be contacted for comment yesterday.