NIMT employees at mercy of ministry of higher education

Elizabeth Joseph

Windhoek

The Namibia Institute of Mining and Technology (NIMT) executive director, Ralph Bussel, confirmed on Monday that employees had received their January salaries but not the unpaid December salaries.

Late last year, lawyers Metcalfe and Beukes sent a letter of demand to the NIMT board of directors after the institution failed to pay the December salaries of approximately 172 employees.

According to board chairperson Alfred Mwiya, the delay lies with the ministry of higher education, training, and innovation.

“The process of getting money from the ministry takes long. You might plan for a time but the process takes time. We have not received any feedback from the ministry about the payment,” Mwiya said.

The institution was given until Friday, 20 January, to pay employees their full December salaries, with interest, including outstanding medical aid contributions, Sanlam retirement annuity fund contributions, and all employee deductions.

No choice

In the letter sent by Metcalfe to NIMT, the failure to make payments to the employees would’ve resulted in the employees not showing up for duty. This did not happen, according to an employee who spoke off the record.

“The union has advised that we go to work while we wait for our salaries to be paid,” he said.

Relief

The ministry has since said that the situation is under control.

“The issue is resolved,” said ministry spokesperson Selma Ngola.

Mwiya, during a telephonic interview, confirmed to Namibian Sun that the ministry has summoned him to a meeting on 8 February regarding the delayed payments.

“I have a meeting with the minister, and the outcome will be favourable. I mean, the institution is funded by the ministry, so it should be resolved after today,” Mwiya said.