A significant development has emerged in the case of the defunct Aquinos mattress factory in Łódź, Poland. The Łódź Prosecutor’s Office has issued a European Investigation Order aimed at recovering the company’s documentation that was transported to Portugal.
This order is intended to secure the documentation of the company, which has been moved to Portugal. “The thievery has ended,” commented Senator Krzysztof Kwiatkowski on social media, expressing his involvement in the case. The plight of the Aquinos employees, who have been awaiting overdue wages since the company declared bankruptcy in June 2023, continues as some of the 300-member workforce still seeks resolution. Legal proceedings are underway against the Portuguese parent company following a request from the National Labour Inspectorate, amid a complete loss of communication with the investor based in Portugal.
The Regional Prosecutor’s Office in Łódź is attempting to locate missing company documents, including employees’ work certificates, which are essential for resolving their employment situations. Reports indicate that some sought-after documents were found in the factory’s parking lot, while others are believed to have been taken to Portugal.
Portuguese Prosecutors to Assist in Document Recovery
The Portuguese prosecutors will now participate in the recovery of the documents under the European Investigation Order. Successful retrieval will enable workers to apply for pensions, unemployment status, or seek new employment opportunities.
The Łódź mattress factory was previously known as Sembella and later Recticell. In 2022, it was acquired by the Portuguese group Aquinos Bedding, which subsequently led to a decline in production. By early 2025, employees found themselves on a forced unpaid leave. The situation escalated in May 2025 when workers received only statements detailing their owed salaries instead of actual payments. Management reportedly reduced staffing levels to avoid mass layoffs, prompting a wave of collective legal actions and inspections by the Labour Inspectorate, while the Social Insurance Institution provided partial assistance. The case has now reached the prosecutor’s office, presenting a glimmer of hope for the recovery of crucial employee documents.
