Amid serious financial troubles at major hair removal clinic franchise Musee Platinum, former employees have taken the rare step of filing for the company’s bankruptcy due to unpaid wages — a case that could become one of the biggest bankruptcies of the year.

Ten people, including former employees of MPH — the company that operated 167 clinics nationwide — filed for bankruptcy with the Tokyo District Court on Friday, according to business research firm Teikoku Databank. The company reportedly has debts totaling ¥30 billion ($207 million). In fiscal 2024, only five other bankruptcies exceeded that amount, and if similar numbers are seen this year, this would rank among the largest, the firm said.

Facing financial difficulties, the company had been unable to pay some employees and business partners since last November. In March, it temporarily shut down all of its clinics nationwide after it became unable to continue offering services.