A Pwllheli store which has come under fire not allowing staff to wear Welsh speaker badges says all staff members are able to provide assistance in Welsh if needed.

The Original Factory Shop on High Street told the Cambrian News that all staff will be “able to provide assistance” in Welsh following an initiative to provide all non-Welsh-speaking staff with “simple Welsh statements”.

The move followed a row in August when a Pwllheli woman claimed she was told to leave the shop after speaking Welsh to a member of staff.

Glenys Jones, 68, said a member of staff at the Original Factory Shop told her she should leave “in a fierce tone” if she was not going to speak English, after she said “excuse me” in Welsh.

The store launched an investigation into the claims, but it was later ruled that no further action would be taken against the member of staff.

Complaints have been made this week that staff at the store are “not being allowed” to wear badges to let customers know they are able to speak Welsh.

Pwllheli town councillor Elfed Gruffydd said he visited the shop last week and offered staff the recognisable orange badges, part of the Iaith Gwaith (Working Welsh) initiative produced by the Welsh Language Commissioner.

Cllr Gruffydd said the store manager accepted his offer for staff to wear the badges but, when he returned with them to the shop, he said he was told the company’s head office had refused to allow staff to wear them.

Cllr Gruffydd said he was “very disappointed” with the company’s attitude.

Original Factory Shop, however, said the badges were not necessary.

“We are committed to delivering excellent service to all customers,” the company said.

“We have ensured that any colleagues who are not fluent Welsh speakers, serving in Welsh-speaking areas, have been provided with simple Welsh statements to help provide assistance.

“Therefore badges aren’t necessary to identify Welsh-speaking colleagues, as all our colleagues are able to offer simple dialogue in Welsh.”

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