No pay and contracts for Legal Affairs staff

In the past people have worked without salaries for more than two months at a time.

The current situation is one of the worst I’ve seen, with some employees not having been paid for the past three months and are also working without renewed contracts. Other staff members are also facing a similar plight as they also have not been paid for the past month and a half, also without contracts.

I am one of those who haven’t been paid for the past month.

This particular project is being funded by the IDB (Inter-American Development Bank), so the monies are available. What is the delay if the monies are there in Central Bank? Do other staff members know they you have rights? Do they know they can stand up and act on them? It is sad to see people so lost in the system that they’ve forgotten they are human beings.

The situation is so bad that every time we have a meeting with the project manager his story changes.

Why? Why are we not being told the truth about what is going on? Why are we in a state of limbo? What are we to do from here? Do we have a job? If so, then why haven’t our contracts been renewed? There was a so-called meeting with Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi and other heads of departments, almost four weeks ago. We understand instructions were given to those responsible to carry out their duties on signing off on contracts and salaries. The minister, as we were told, was shocked when he learned what was going on.

Mr Minister, if you have given strict instructions, why haven’t they been carried out? Why are these people not being held accountable for jeopardising the lives of your employees? We deserve better treatment.

How much more do we have to endure? Some people are without food in their homes. They can’t afford to send their children to school. Some are actually students themselves. We have bills to pay, rent to pay. And now we face Christmas without pay. There will be no joy in many home in this season of goodwill.

I am certain the Legal Affairs Minister is always paid on time.

He doesn’t have to face the kind of situation we are currently in, which unfortunately we are facing for the third time. Why are we here again? Why do I have to take this type of action for something that is mandatory? Please, Mr Minister, I am pleading with you to resolve this matter as soon as possible. Let us know where we stand as employees and as people of this nation. Show us the same respect we show you.

Samantha Samlal San Juan