As International Workers' Day is observed, several WAMCO employees are yet to receive salaries for April
Concerns are mounting over the systematic neglect of workers' rights at the Waste Management Corporation (WAMCO), as the company has reportedly failed to deposit employee salaries and pension contributions for several months. Staff have expressed fears that the utility is on the brink of bankruptcy due to administrative mismanagement and excessive spending on political appointees. These anxieties are further exacerbated by the management's failure to provide adequate explanations for the persistent payment delays, leading to widespread frustration among the workforce.
President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu and WAMCO Managing Director Mujthaba Jaleel. | Wamco
As International Workers' Day is observed on May 1st, it has come to light that several employees of the Waste Management Corporation (WAMCO) have yet to receive their salaries for the month of April.
While reports indicate that the company has faced difficulties in paying employee salaries over the past four months, it has also been several months since any contributions were deposited into the pension fund.
Speaking to RaajjeTV, several employees expressed that while International Workers' Day is being observed, the government has significantly neglected workers' rights, noting that salaries for the month of April have yet to be paid.
Efforts to obtain a comment from the Waste Management Corporation (WAMCO) regarding this matter have been unsuccessful. As relevant officials from the company have declined to comment, the exact cause of the delay and the number of employees affected remain unclear. WAMCO has previously maintained silence regarding similar salary-related issues.
The salary for December was only paid after the start of January, followed by January’s salary being disbursed after February had already begun. Similarly, February’s wages remained unpaid until media reports surfaced, leading to a disbursement around March 10. The salary for March was also delayed, issued only after employees voiced their concerns and the matter was highlighted in the news.
WAMCO employees were only issued their salaries and Ramadan allowances after the matter was reported in the news and met with widespread public criticism.
Employees had been expressing significant concerns as the company's Human Resources Department failed to provide a specific date for the disbursement of the Ramadan allowance, even as the holy month began. Following media coverage of the issue and mounting public criticism on social media, the company finally deposited the allowance into its employees' accounts on February 19th.
Amidst mounting reports of administrative mismanagement at the Waste Management Corporation (WAMCO), a senior official within the company, speaking on condition of anonymity, has revealed that several expatriate employees have yet to receive their salaries. The official noted that even last month, these employees were only paid after the 20th. Furthermore, the official alleged that some expatriate workers are being intimidated and warned against speaking out about the ongoing delays in their wage payments.
Addressing management's allegations that companies have failed to settle their dues with WAMCO, he stated that the corporation receives significant daily cash inflows and that businesses are indeed paying their bills. He further noted that while some companies occasionally face delays in making payments, they do eventually settle their outstanding invoices.
He stated that this was merely an excuse and did not represent the actual issue. He further noted that numerous political appointments have already been made to the detriment of the company, claiming these individuals do nothing more than clock in before heading home. Additionally, he remarked that some employees spend their time playing cards and engaging in various other games within the office premises.
However, he noted that the salaries of political appointees are several times higher than those of regular company employees, and that these officials face no issues regarding their pay. He further stated that they receive their salaries even before the start of the month and were also provided their Ramadan allowance well in advance.
Highlighting the dire financial state of WAMCO, he warned that if the current trend continues, services will soon be disrupted and the company will face total bankruptcy. He further noted that the corporation is already operating at a loss.
Amidst mounting concerns surrounding the Waste Management Corporation (WAMCO), it has emerged that the company has failed to remit pension contributions for over a year, despite deducting the funds from employees' salaries.
