Some 12,500 jobs which are under threat by the collapse of budget retailer Wilko remain secure, according to GMB Union, following assurances from administrator PwC.
Though the deadline for rivals to place bids to buy the embattled chain came and passed last week, PwC is said to have suspended redundancies at Wilko as offers are considered.
“Whilst this is a positive development, Wilko is not out of the woods by any means and this is a time of incredible stress and worry for the 12,500 workers who face losing their jobs,” GMB national secretary Andy Prendergast said.
HMV-owner Doug Putman, B&M European Retail and Poundland are among those tipped to have placed late-stage bids for Wilko, though whether any are successful remains to be seen.
Some 400 Wilko stores remain open, with bids supposedly suggesting between tens to all of these could survive a takeover by another firm.