The Ombudsman and Civil Rights Coalition have stepped in to help two supermarket managers forced to leave the Island after their boss allegedly failed to pay them their final wages.

The Royal Gazette yesterday told of two former Arnold's managers, Ray Chehayeb and Shafiq Cheema, who must fly back to Canada today after the Government failed to recover their outstanding wages.

Mr. Chehayeb and Mr. Cheema claim they were unfairly dismissed following moves to bring the boss of Arnold's Markets before an employment tribunal. They say their contracts were terminated after staff met with Frank Arnold in an attempt to resolve grievances over working practices.

Mr. Chehayeb, 33, and Mr. Cheema, 43, say that despite having worked for the Arnold Group for more than three years, neither received any notice or severance pay. They claim they are each owed $10,000-$11,000 but have only received a few hundred dollars.

Now, three weeks after their employment ended they are being forced to fly back to Toronto after their money ran out. Mr. Chehayeb and Mr. Cheema even had to borrow cash from their friends to pay for their airfares.

Both say they feel "let down" by the Government and the Department of Labour and Training for failing to recover their outstanding wages.

Following publication of the story yesterday, The Royal Gazette>was contacted by the Civil Rights Coalition of Bermuda and the Ombudsman's office, both wanting to help the two former managers.

Raymond Russell, chairman of the Civil Rights Coalition, said he had contacted the Canadian Consul and Labour Board Director Milton Scott over the matter.

He said: "I contacted the Consul over the plight of these two gentlemen, who have been very badly treated. I then contacted the Labour Board and told Mr. Scott that the Bermuda Government should pay to keep these gentlemen here until the situation gets straightened out.

"It is clear that they have not been treated properly and I feel their civil rights have been violated.

"I don't think the Labour Board are doing a proper job by not protecting these foreign workers."

Yesterday, Mr. Chehayeb said: "Mr. Scott has called me and said he has written a letter to Mr. Arnold today. We also went to the Ombudsman's office (Arlene Brock) and talked to her. She told us that if nothing happens, then to notify her in another week and she will send in a formal complaint.

"We are still flying home tomorrow as planned as we have nowhere to stay. But now we've got a lot more people involved we are more hopeful."

Mr. Arnold denies firing Mr. Chehayeb and Mr. Cheema, claiming their work permits expired and he decided not to renew them.