Former workers of the now defunct Freetown Waste Management Company (FWMC) yesterday took to the streets again to protest for what they regard as “overdue redundancy benefits”.
The mob marched to State House in a peaceful protest demanding President Ernest Koroma’s intervention.
Leader of the delegation, FWMC former supervisor, Malikie Koroma, explained, FWMC is a company setup by an act of Parliament in 2008. However, in 2013, he said the Mayor of the Freetown City Council, Franklyn Bode Gibson, told us that FWMC has been dissolved and MASADA has taken over and they (Council) would do all they can to ensure that we receive our end-of-service benefits. “Since 30 of November 2013 to date we’ve not received a penny… this is why we decided to march to State House today.”
“Prior our march to State House,” Koroma explained, “we were at the Youyi Building to explain the issue to the Minister of Local Government, Maya Kaikai. However, we could only see the Deputy Minister, Hadriu Kalokoh.” A meeting which he regarded fruitfulness.
He further explained that some of them are highly in debt, other’s house rents are overdue, also noting that this has separated families. “As for me, my wife has left me because I kept raising her hopes that I would receive my benefits soon…”
The leader of the delegation said they’ve spoken to the Mayor and his response was he is not responsible to pay us end-of-service benefits. “It was Council who issued the redundancy letter,” he said.
FCC Public Relations Officer, Cyril Mattia, also affirmed that Council is not responsible for their plight. He said FWMC is a private company.
OG/20/11/17
By Ophaniel Gooding
Tuesday November 21, 2017.
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