EMPLOYEES who lost their jobs when Bowditch & Partners Pty Ltd was kicked off a Muswellbrook mine site are owed about $2 million in wages and entitlements. BHP Billiton terminated Bowditch’s overburden removal contract at its Mount Arthur North coalmine two weeks ago.
The mining giant is understood to be considering a compensation payout for terminating the contract which has forced Bowditch & Partners into liquidation. The company owes wages and redundancy payments totalling about $2 million and a further $500,000 to the Australian Taxation Office.
Geoff Bowditch was the owner and director of the earthmoving company that has had to sack 110 workers and several contractors.
Daniel Quinn from SV Partners was appointed to handle the liquidation and he was hopeful of a positive outcome.
“We are talking with the lawyers for Bowditch & Partners and we will be working hard to gain the entitlements for the employees,” he said.