By Prince J Musa in Kenema
Workers of Mott Mac Donald Schools Support Program who have been working with the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education (MBSSE) schools across the country have accused the organization of defrauding them since 2017.
The aggrieved workers 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 got them to sign dual employment contracts and that at the end of the project, they sent them letters requesting them to hand over “immediately” all the tools which have been given to as schools support officers.
He maintained that they had approached the former Education Minister Alpha Timbo sometime ago in Bo and 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 to that they claimed ninety percent 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.
According to Allieu they have resolved to continue to be in possession of all working tools and materials until a negotiated settlement was reached.
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 contents of the contract document and in the end the company advised them to quit if they wished 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 never materialized, adding that due to several engagements, their salary was increased to Le1, 700,000 while the district support officers under the same contract were 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 MacDonald, Amadu Mansaray said he will not comment on the matter until he got official approval.
Copyright © 2021 Politico Online 15/03/21
