Suspended MMMC official demands overdue salary
Accused of violating suspension conditions
Suspended MMMC regional coordinator Imanuel Festus is accusing the MMMC of failing to pay his salary despite being suspended on full pay, while the MMMC say he has violated the conditions of his suspension.
Suspended Mining, Metal, Maritime, and Construction Union (MMMC) regional coordinator Imanuel Festus claims he is owed money after he was suspended on full pay in October last year.
In a letter sent to MMMC acting secretary general Joseph //Garoeb this month, dated 12 January, and seen by this publication, Festus claimed he has not received any payment from MMMC since his suspension in October. He also demanded to be provided with details of the misconduct he is alleged to have committed that warrants the investigation.
"If MMMC fails to do so, I will be left with no other option but to protest these injustices committed by custodians of the law (Act 11 of 2007)."
He told Namibia Media Holdings that he wants his outstanding salary paid.
"I'm very much disappointed in the manner that the acting secretary general is handling my case. Not only because I have bills to pay and a family to take care of, but also the fact that he is giving a bad example to employers out there. He is a custodian of the law as a unionist in a high position in the organisation," Festus said.
Violated conditions
In response to the allegations, acting secretary general Joseph //Garoeb claimed Festus violated the suspension by not returning the company laptop and showing up on company premises. According to //Garoeb, the company allegedly paid Festus' salary in November. However, he said they haven’t paid Festus' December salary due to the suspension violations.
//Garoeb furthermore claimed that the union "also noticed that Festus has taken up alternative employment by venturing into selling fresh vegetables and mahangu on a self-made trolley, where he is earning an income. This has halted his payment. He should be at home waiting for us to call him."
//Garoeb further claimed the union is not bound to inform Festus why he was suspended.
"It’s a pending investigation, and as long as he holds onto the company laptop, the investigation will be prolonged".
Festus was suspended with immediate effect on 25 October. He was barred from entering the company premises without permission and was given five days to vacate the company's accommodation where he resides. He was also instructed to surrender any company equipment in his position.
In a letter sent to MMMC acting secretary general Joseph //Garoeb this month, dated 12 January, and seen by this publication, Festus claimed he has not received any payment from MMMC since his suspension in October. He also demanded to be provided with details of the misconduct he is alleged to have committed that warrants the investigation.
"If MMMC fails to do so, I will be left with no other option but to protest these injustices committed by custodians of the law (Act 11 of 2007)."
He told Namibia Media Holdings that he wants his outstanding salary paid.
"I'm very much disappointed in the manner that the acting secretary general is handling my case. Not only because I have bills to pay and a family to take care of, but also the fact that he is giving a bad example to employers out there. He is a custodian of the law as a unionist in a high position in the organisation," Festus said.
Violated conditions
In response to the allegations, acting secretary general Joseph //Garoeb claimed Festus violated the suspension by not returning the company laptop and showing up on company premises. According to //Garoeb, the company allegedly paid Festus' salary in November. However, he said they haven’t paid Festus' December salary due to the suspension violations.
//Garoeb furthermore claimed that the union "also noticed that Festus has taken up alternative employment by venturing into selling fresh vegetables and mahangu on a self-made trolley, where he is earning an income. This has halted his payment. He should be at home waiting for us to call him."
//Garoeb further claimed the union is not bound to inform Festus why he was suspended.
"It’s a pending investigation, and as long as he holds onto the company laptop, the investigation will be prolonged".
Festus was suspended with immediate effect on 25 October. He was barred from entering the company premises without permission and was given five days to vacate the company's accommodation where he resides. He was also instructed to surrender any company equipment in his position.
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