By Prince J Musa in Kenema.
Workers of Mott Mac Donald Schools supporting program which has been working with the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education (MBSSE) schools across the country have accused Mott Mac Donald organization of defrauding them since 2017.
Aggrieved schools support officers working for this organization told Politico that Mott Mac Donald hired them as school support officers by signing a contract as sub consultants for “leh wi lan project” since 2017 and that instead of serving as consultants, they have worked as employees.
Lamin Paul Allieu, one of the support officers disclosed that the organization made them to signed dual employment contracts but have only worked for them as employees after they signed contract as consultants which is expected to last for four years until at the end of the project, adding that “they sent us letters requesting us to hand over all their tools which have been given to us as schools support officers immediatel.”
He maintained that they had approached the former education Minister Alpha Osman Timbo sometime in Bo but were assured by the organization that they had signed an agreement with the ministry of education to incorporate them into the system by giving them pin-codes because of their experience in working with the ministry.
Added that 90% of them were educated with degrees and higher teacher’s certificates for which they have taken their grievances up with the Ministry of labour and have also consulted their legal team on the matter.
Allieu said they have resolved to continue to be in possession of all working tools and materials until a negotiation is reached on how to resolve the matter amid threats and harassments by the district support officer.
The aggrieved workers said that from their contract signed as consultants, the organization told them that they were neither entitled to end of service benefit nor NASSIT or medical benefit, adding that since then, they have worked as employees instead of consultants and now that the project is coming to an end, they have thought it fit to demand for end of service benefit since they we were used as employees.
Francis Jambawai also told politico that they initially didn’t understand the content of the document sub-consultant until later when they came to understand that they had been working for a contract they didn’t sign for as employees which was why they were asking for all facilities employees stand to benefit including NASSIT, end of service benefit and Medical allowances among others.
He said that the company advised them to quit if they wanted but they had stayed because of lack of other options and the difficulty to get another job.
Paul Lamin another affected person said initially the organization told them that they were going to be paid just as the inspector of schools on a monthly basis which was never forthcoming, adding that due to several engagements, their salary was increased to Le1, 700,000 while the district support officers under the same contract are paid up to Le10,000,000.
The District Support Officer at the Ministry of Education in Kenema Leonard Barth Williams declined to comment on the matter, saying that the matter was beyond him.
The human resource officer for Mott Mac Donald organisation Amodu Mansaray said unless he was written officially or the company he will not comment on the matter.
Copyright © 2021 Politico Online 15/03/21
