Fiber Optic Firm phoenix Engineering Files for Insolvency, Leaving Subcontractors and Workersโ Unpaid – Some Now Homeless
Kรถln, Germany – Phoenixโค Engineering GmbH, aโข company based in Kรถln, Germany and Greece, has filed for insolvency, leaving a trail of โunpaid debts exceeding โฌ2.6 million and, in some cases, rendering workers homeless, according to โฃa report by SWR (Southwest Broadcasting). The company, a general contractor involved in numerous fiber optic projects including those in Bad Ems-Nassauโ and Loreley, has seemingly vanished, with its โฃCologneโค office reportedly cleared and contact attempts unsuccessful.
Subcontractors are reporting significant outstanding payments. Murat Yaman, a garden and landscape builder from Bad Ems, is owed over โฌ200,000, while Ferhat Ekinci, Marko Schlegel, and saschaโฃ Gรถppert report similar experiences.
The situation is particularly dire for foreign workers, primarily from Romania and greece, who claim they haven’t received wages for months.SWR reports thatโ some of these workers โฃare now experiencing homelessness, โขasโ Phoenix allegedly failed to pay for โฃthier accommodation.
Aโฃ preliminary insolvency administrator has been appointed by the โคCologne District โคCourt, but โขthe process is in its early stages. โ Priority will be given to direct employees seeking bankruptcy money, โขwith subcontractor claims to be assessed only afterโ a control โฃprocedure is opened, leaving the โtimeline for potential payments โขuncertain.
The role of โUGG,โ theโ company โคthat commissioned Phoenix for private sector fiber optic expansion without public funding, is under scrutiny. The district governance claims no obligation for these projects, โwhile โฃUGG maintains it made all payments to Phoenix in full. โThe cause ofโ the widespread non-payment remains โunclear.
Phoenix Engineering has โnot yet responded to a request for comment โคfromโ SWR.