By Solomon T. Gaye
The working relationship between workers and management of the Compagnie Sahelienne Entreprise (CSE), a road building company, is reportedly strained, as aggrieved workers have threatened demonstration in demand of their benefits in Nimba County.
Speaking on behalf of the aggrieved workers in Sanniquellie over the weekend, Ansu Jabateh of the Civil Work Department accused the management of abruptly terminating many of the workers’ contract agreements without prior notice.
According to Jabateh, the management of CSE has refused to settle workers’ benefits for services rendered to the company in line with their job descriptions, in accordance with the Ministry of Labor’s policy.
“Some of us here worked at various departments serving as heavy duty drivers, heavy duty mechanics, and surveyors; some of the workers served the company for nine years, seven years, and some, six years, but management has refused to pay the workers’ benefits,” Jabateh disclosed.
Speaking on the same issue, Slobert Williams, the Safety Manager, pointed accusing fingers at the CSE management for their refusal to pay workers’ benefits, adding that the situation is creating hardship for the workers, limiting their ability to cater to their families.
“We are still looking up to the government to intervene peacefully, or else, we will demonstrate as a wakeup call to claim government’s attention for immediate action,” Williams threatened.
Speaking in a separate interview, Calvin S. Jimmy, a worker, called on the President-elect, Ambassador Joseph Boakai, to intervene in order for CSE to pay workers their benefits.
During this Paper’s normal routine at the Administrative Building in Sanniquellie over the weekend, many of the aggrieved CSE workers were seen coming out of the Ministry of Labor’s office after a heated argument in demand of their benefits.
However, CSE’s HR in Sanniquellie, Andoh S. Bolay, denied reports of abrupt termination of workers’ contract agreements without prior notice, but did offer some insight on the issue.
“The issue has claimed the attention of the government, and as such, the Ministry of Labor’s representatives assigned in Sanniquellie are investigating the case,” Bolay asserted.
