By- Aruna Rashed Toma Bangura
The Chief Shop Steward for Sierratel Mohamed Sawaneh has informed this medium that Sierratel workers have now gone 10 full months without receiving salaries; 4 years no leave allowance, an outstanding backlog of one year.
Mohamed Sawaneh said that, the workers union negotiated for an increase of salary by Le450, 000 which he said they have not been paid until now, adding that there is a Le170, 000 as ten month backlog for which no payment has been made.
He disclosed that these problems have led to frustration and death of some of their colleagues and, he said that some workers who died in active service their families have not received their pensions, adding that some workers who have reached retirement age have not received their retirement benefits for the past two-three years.
Mohamed Sawaneh stated that the Government promised to pay them all their outstanding backlogs on 27th January, 2023, but until now they have not received any payment.
According to the Chief Shop Steward, a company called Sentinel won the bidding process to privatize Sierratel since 2020 but, he said until now, Government have not given the contract to Sentinel, which he said have led to workers going astray.
Mohamed Sawaneh said that Sierratel is at stake and asked when the Government will pay them now that it is time for elections, adding that since SLPP came to power everything is rampant.
He added that they have channeled their complaints to several authorities ranging from State House, Minister of Information and Communication and other authorized persons but said they have not got any positive response or meet up to their demands.