By Victoria Bernard
The Ministry of Labour and Social Security Office in Kenema has been closed by the Management of the Kenema Shopping Plaza today, 19th October 2022.
In an interview with the Assistance Director of Ocupational Safety and Health, Tamba Bundor said the closure of the office came as a result of their failure to pay the Office rent . He went further to say, the office rent is a yearly payment which the Ministry through their permanent Secretary’s Office have written several letters to the Ministry of Works which is responsible for their payment but have yet to be accomplished.
Speaking to this medium, the Manager for Sierra Estate Management Company Aiah Ansumana said the discussion as a result of the many years backlog payment as the Ministry owes the Management a six(6) years rental fee with no attempt for payment since 2017. Yearly amount is *NLe 8,695(8,695,000)* and when put into calculation may sum up to *NLE 52, 170(52,170,000)* for the past Six years.
He also said as per mandate SEMCO has a policy of notification ranging from 15, 30 and 45 days and all those processes have been followed and yet the rent remains unpaid. The Manager went further to say, the company is also constraint with finance and therefore payment of rent is the only means to address most of the needs and concerns from their staff and the general public on the management of the said entity.
It could be recalled that last year the office of the Labour Ministry was shut down for almost a month and yet the Ministry of Works have so far failed to comply with the tenancy agreement between them and SEMCO.
*vvbern@gmail. Com*
