Tottenham Hotspur have been urged to step in to pay contracted workers at their new stadium after electricians said they had been left out of pocket by thousands of pounds in the run-up to Christmas.

The electricians, who have been installing alarms at the new £800m stadium at White Hart Lane, are among more than 100 across London and the south-east facing uncertainty about how they will be paid after the agency that recruited them, BCL Recruitment, fell into financial difficulties. The firm told workers “our funding line is now abruptly inactive”.

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The Guardian spoke to a number of workers affected by the deadlock at Tottenham, including one who said they were owed more than £4,000 and were still working despite doubts over about whether they would be paid. One worker said: “To be fair the Tottenham job was the best in London – £360 a day is unheard of – so obviously people jumped on this job because of the money and that has now backfired on us because we have not been paid.”

Some have also spoken out about the pressure they and other workers allegedly found themselves under to get the job finished. “Twelve hours a day, seven days a week and if you didn’t work at the weekends then you were looked badly upon,” said one. “People have been crashing with tiredness, going to sleep in cupboards.” Union representatives say it is one of the latest examples of the way in which the so-called “gig economy” is hitting traditionally stable trades. The agency was used by Tyco, a company contracted to install fire alarms at the ground.

Sam McDouall, chairman of the Independent Workers Union of Great Britain’s electrical workers branch, said that other companies associated with the agency had stepped in to make sure wages were paid and lobbied Spurs to do the same. “The IWGB find it very difficult to understand how a football club that prides itself on being a club of moral distinction allows its contractors to act in such a morally and ethically poor way. Considering this will have a major impact on the electrical workers’ families and it’s a month before Christmas we are hoping for a swift resolution.”

A Tottenham Hotspur spokesman said: “The health, safety and wellbeing of everybody on the stadium site is of paramount importance to both ourselves and Mace, our stadium construction partner, and allegations such as this are taken extremely seriously. We expect such claims to be reported through the correct channels in order that Mace can take any action necessary.”

Mace said it has been working with Tyco to ensure that the payment issue was resolved. It was under the impression on Friday evening the problem had been resolved, although workers who the Guardian were in touch with remained in doubt about their situation.

On the broader issue of working conditions at the site, a Mace spokesperson said: “The health, safety and wellbeing of everybody is – and has always been – a core value at Mace and any suggestion that our health and wellbeing standards are being compromised is incorrect.

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“We constantly monitor the working hours of everyone working on site. Earlier in the year we wrote to the managing directors of the trade contractors on the project to remind them of the importance of monitoring working hours and wellbeing of their site workforce.

“We have number of different safety reporting systems in place so that anyone who is concerned about their working hours or conditions can report it to Mace directly and anonymously if necessary.”

A Tyco spokesman said: “It is Tyco’s policy to pay agencies in line with agreed payment terms and on submittal of valid invoices. Tyco has worked with this agency to resolve issues regarding the submission of incorrect invoices in order that payments can be made. It should be noted that Tyco is not refusing to pay workers – the agency with which Tyco is engaged is responsible for making payments to its workers directly.”

Spurs announced on Friday that 6,000 season ticket holders will be invited to visit the south stand of the new stadium at a “familiarisation event” on 16 December. They will be allowed to try out the entry system and eat and drink on the concourse.