By Moses M. Tokpah
-Margibi
Some workers of the Boker T. Washington Institute (BWI) in Kakata City, Margibi County have accused the Administration of running what they termed as a dubious payroll system.
The workers who spoke on the basis of anonymity for fear of being dismissed, claimed to have been unable to meet certain financial obligations due to the reported actions of the BWI Administration.
A worker from one of the departments in the institution claimed that he went to receive his salary from the Liberia Bank for Development and Investment, but he received less than what he expected.
The disenchanted worker said he engaged the administration on the situation, but he was told that the fault derived from the Bank.
The BWI worker indicated that he went to the Bank to withdraw a little over US$160, but he received US$100 adding that he does not know what happened to his balance money.
Another worker who did not disclose his salary said he faced similar situation at the Bank.
But the BWI Administration responding to the workers’ claims, denied running dubious payroll system and reducing workers’ salaries (employees or contractors) terming such claims as false.
The acting Vice Principal for Administration at BWI, Thomas V. Fahuwu stated that the administration has no knowledge on the workers’ dubious payroll system and salaries cut claims.
Thomas said he is aware that BWI has both internal funding and government allotment.
He disclosed that there are some workers who are on government direct deposit while others are on the BWI’s internal payroll.
“For example, in this office, two persons are on government direct deposit, other people who were hired two years ago have not entered a direct government deposit, but because of their importance to the workings of BWI, they were hired and the administration still maintains them on the BWI’s internal payroll.
According to him, some of the workers are contractors while others are employees howbeit, they both are moving in parallel.
Mr. Fahuwu revealed that whenever people are interviewed and hired, contract is given and people are placed on probation, thereafter, they go through appraisal and then their immediate supervisor reports to the Human Resource Manager who then does a general appraisal and writes a communication as to whether the individual’s contract is extended or a turned into a permanent status based on his/her performance.
The VPA said once an individual is hired, the institution has the sole responsibility to pay him/her for the work performed.
He furthered that the workers have not brought the issue of dubious payroll to the attention of the administration.
Mr. Fahuwu voiced that he is surprised by the workers who attend the institution’s year end programs where the business manager explained to them the status of the budget, and the budget performance.
He, however, said the BWI administration received a ‘Carbon Copy’ of a response from the LBDI management responding to a communication that was written by the Booker Washington Institute Workers Union regarding a similar situation.
VPA Thomas said the Bank in the communication provided clarity of the issues and apologized to the workers.
He called on the workers to follow the channel of communication in seeking redress to their grievances especially when they have issues with people, co-workers or the BWI Administration.