Employees in the tourism and hospitality sectors who are beneficiaries of the Safety Net Support launched by President Julius Maada Bio have lauded and heaped praises to the President for his timely intervention to rescue private sector workers amidst convid-19 pandemic.
“President Bio has put smile in our faces and families to get through these tough times. He has made history in Sierra Leone as the first President ever to direct his government to prepare a three months minimum government wages package to us in this trying period in the country and globally” the tourism workers averred.
The employees were speaking to the press after the disbursement of one million eight hundred thousand Leones (Le1,800,000) package to each registered and verified employee to the tourism and hospitality sectors which commenced today Friday 14th August, 2020 at Radisson Blu Mammy Yoko Hotel, Aberdeen in Freetown.
Fallah Vandi Yattor, an employee of Radisson Blu said that he has appreciated the President so much that he would never forget to tell the story up to his grand children.
“President Bio’s directives for disbursement of funds to the sector are commendable and it is a step in the right direction” he said.
Joanette A. Kanu, Income Monitor, Radisson Blu Hotel reiterated that she was very joyful for the package and she was not expecting it from the government.
She further urged the government to replicate same to other sectors which are also hit hard by the covid-19 pandemic.
Director of Tourism in the Ministry of Tourism, Mohamed Jalloh expressed impression about the government to cushion the devastating effects of the pandemic in the tourism sector by paying a three months minimum government wages to its workers.
He further dilated on the transparency and smooth running of the verification and payment exercise to registered beneficiaries with the presence of representatives from NCRA, Anti- Corruption Commission, Ministry of Finance, Auditors, National Tourist Board and the Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Affairs.
The disbursement exercise which commences today to registered workers attached to Radisson Blu Hotel, Bintumani Hotel, Family Kingdom and Atlantic Hotel cater r for employees nationwide working within the categories of hotels, guest houses, night clubs, restaurants, bars, travel agencies, local tour operating companies, sea transportation and tour guiding.
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