A former employee at a cleaning firm that closed this month said that she and other employees were still owed back wages.

The woman, who asked not to be named, said she and “more than 30” other former workers at Just Cleaners Ltd were still due money — in some cases for months of work.

The former employee said the loss of her job had left her in a tough situation.

She explained: “I’m struggling to stay above water and to take care of my bills and to do what I have to do.

“It’s hard living here ... because everything is going up.”

Just Cleaners announced in a letter sent to staff last month that the business would close on October 15.

It advised that the company had “experienced significant difficulties over the past months”.

The company added: “While all efforts have been made through cost-cutting in other areas, infrastructure changes, etc, it is not enough to sustain the business.”

Just Cleaners said its goal was “to ensure the smoothest transition possible”.

It added: “Further, the company has and will continue to make all efforts to ensure all dues will be provided [to] you after handover of the company to the appointed Official Receiver/liquidator.

“We deeply appreciate the loyalty of our employees and we thank you for the service that you have given the company.”

The letter is signed Just Cleaners management.

Chief executive Paul Vieira has not responded to repeated requests for comment. However, the company’s Facebook page has been updated several times since October 15.

A post yesterday said: “Finding life/work balance ‘maid’ easy with Just Cleaners, we bring the clean!”

The former employee said that she had gone to the office before October 15 to find it cleared out — “no desks, no computers, no nothing”.

She added there had been no communication about whether the wages would be paid.

The problem of non-payment and late payment of wages at the firm was first brought to the attention of The Royal Gazette in the summer.

The former employee said that the Government needed to take a stronger stance on companies that failed to meet their financial obligations.

She added: “It happens all the time. And we, the people, suffer.”

The woman said that she had been advised by the Department of Workforce Development to take Just Cleaners to court.

But she added: “No one can find Paul.”

The woman and another former employee who previously spoke to The Royal Gazette both identified Mr Vieira as the operator of the business.

Mr Vieira’s personal Facebook page yesterday listed him as the chief executive of Just Cleaners.

Telephone calls to the business could not be connected yesterday. An e-mail sent to Mr Vieira via the Just Cleaners general account was not responded to by press time yesterday.

Mr Vieira also did not respond to questions he was sent via Facebook.

A company representative said in a e-mail earlier this month that Mr Vieira was “off island and is unable to access his e-mail”.