AN AIRCRAFT maintenance employee has been left struggling to pay rent, despite working 52 hours a week after his company forced staff to take a pay cut.

The worker based at Prestwick Aircraft Maintenance Limited (PAML) was forced to accept minimum wage as the coronavirus grounded Ryanair flights.

The worker, who did not wished to be named, claimed: “They have completely lacked humanity. We should have been furloughed. They should have protected their staff.

“You can’t social distance in this line of work. It’s impossible. There has been a substantial cut to my wage, but I was left with no choice. It was either that or go off sick and that was on statutory sick pay.

“It’s had a huge impact on my life, my mental health has been affected. I have struggled to pay rent and other bills. I have lost between £700 and £800 out of it.”

“I had to isolate as had symptoms of COVID-19, so I took 14 days off. Other colleagues were the same.

“They provided us with masks and gloves, but it was our responsibility to order them, and we were only allowed two per day.”

The Advertiser contacted PAML for a comment, but received no response.

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