THE government must ensure that wages owed to former Thomas Cook workers are paid “in full and without delay,” union leaders insisted today.

TSSA general secretary Manuel Cortes, whose union represents office workers in the travel industry, spoke out in defence of thousands of people who lost their jobs when Thomas Cook went bust last week.

He told Business Secretary Andrea Leadsom at a government taskforce meeting that she has a duty to ensure the company’s employees receive the wages they are owed.