Unpaid salaries plunge 13 000 enumerators into turmoil
A total of 13 000 census enumerators have yet to be paid, saying the Namibia Statistics Agency's (NSA) delays and lack of communication has plunged them into financial turmoil.
The national population and housing census draws to a close this Sunday, 5 November, but enumerators said being paid for their work has been marred with "a series of communication mishaps, with promises of pending salary payouts constantly changing".
"Today, they tell you this, and tomorrow it's another story," one worker lamented.
Initially assured that their salaries would be processed upon completion of the fieldwork, enumerators were then informed that their money would not be paid until the end of October.
Several enumerators - who preferred to remain anonymous - have bemoaned paying taxes on their unpaid salaries, and expressed discontent about their low incomes being taxed.
The affected employees, largely young graduates, now find themselves with no source of income, while others - who were dispatched to various areas of the country which required them to obtain accommodation - were plunged into debt due to the payment delay, they said.
We apologise
In response to the complaints, NSA statistician-general and CEO Alex Shimuafeni said they are aware of the payment delay, with enumerators meant to get their money by 31 October.
“The delay is due to the fact that we are busy with multiple verifications, which includes verification of each and every tablet that was used by each of the 13 000 enumerators. We have, however, started with the payment process, but we are not sure at this stage when that process will be completed," he said.
“Let me also take this opportunity to apologise, on behalf of the NSA, to all the enumerators and staff involved for this delay. We are working on how we can fast-track the payment process and also to improve these processes going forward.”
The national population and housing census draws to a close this Sunday, 5 November, but enumerators said being paid for their work has been marred with "a series of communication mishaps, with promises of pending salary payouts constantly changing".
"Today, they tell you this, and tomorrow it's another story," one worker lamented.
Initially assured that their salaries would be processed upon completion of the fieldwork, enumerators were then informed that their money would not be paid until the end of October.
Several enumerators - who preferred to remain anonymous - have bemoaned paying taxes on their unpaid salaries, and expressed discontent about their low incomes being taxed.
The affected employees, largely young graduates, now find themselves with no source of income, while others - who were dispatched to various areas of the country which required them to obtain accommodation - were plunged into debt due to the payment delay, they said.
We apologise
In response to the complaints, NSA statistician-general and CEO Alex Shimuafeni said they are aware of the payment delay, with enumerators meant to get their money by 31 October.
“The delay is due to the fact that we are busy with multiple verifications, which includes verification of each and every tablet that was used by each of the 13 000 enumerators. We have, however, started with the payment process, but we are not sure at this stage when that process will be completed," he said.
“Let me also take this opportunity to apologise, on behalf of the NSA, to all the enumerators and staff involved for this delay. We are working on how we can fast-track the payment process and also to improve these processes going forward.”
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