The manager of the establishment closed on Thursday in Cala Millor claims that everything is false and that the closure is due to a dishwasher breakdown. Inspectors detected serious deficiencies in food safety and working conditions.
The manager of the Cala Millor restaurant that was closed last Thursday by order of health inspectors has broken his silence to deny all accusations. In statements to this newspaper, the establishment's manager, who is Chinese, claims that the allegations of unsanitary conditions and labour exploitation are "all lies" and that the closure is solely due to a dishwasher breakdown.
"On Thursday, many police officers and inspectors came to conduct an inspection, they even scared the workers. They closed the establishment just because the dishwasher is not working and we are waiting for a part to fix it. We are cleaning these days but without the machine we cannot open," explains the manager.
The provisional closure was decreed after a joint investigation by the Sant Llorenç Local Police and the National Police of Manacor. According to the report, the establishment presented serious deficiencies in two areas: food safety and working conditions. Health authorities gave the company a ten-day deadline to rectify the identified problems.
One of the most serious points highlighted by inspectors was the possible labour exploitation of employees. The manager firmly denies this: "No one works 13 hours, that is impossible and a lie. There are different shifts, from 12 to 16 and from 19 to 23. There is a break at noon," he defends.
However, he admits that there are rooms in the basement of the restaurant that employees use. "They are for their personal rest. They say we don't have bathrooms but there are four, for men and women, separated," he states.
An employee who has been there since the relatively recent opening confirms the shift schedule, although he acknowledges that some colleagues stay overnight some days. "It's a place that is fine, it's not very dirty, I'm happy with my job there," he assures.
Regarding the quality of the food, the manager also rejects the accusations: "The food is not bad, we only have good reviews, how could that be if the food wasn't good? We eat the same as the customers. The products are separated, we have more than ten freezers. What has been published doesn't add up," he says.
The restaurant manager believes that everything is the result of a complaint out of spite from a former employee. "A former worker who did not comply with me and had gambling problems asked me for money and I said no," he points out.
Despite the manager's explanations, the sanctions issued by the inspectors continue their course. The restaurant will remain closed until it rectifies the serious deficiencies recorded. The manager has announced that he is consulting with his lawyer about the possibility of taking legal action.
The closure has caused great distress among regular customers in the area, who saw the establishment as a trusted venue. Meanwhile, the residents of Cala Millor hope that the situation will be resolved soon and that the restaurant can reopen, complying with all health and labour guarantees.
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