Medical aid woes rock NBC
Employees of the Namibian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) are without medical aid coverage because the company is unable to pay their medical aid fund contributions.
The NBC has promised to make weekly payments of N$50 000 to Namibia Medical Care as a means to remedy the situation until the end of August. The national broadcaster is now waiting on the NMC board of trustees to make a decision on the matter.
NBC director-general Stanley Similo upon enquiry confirmed that employees had been without coverage since 1 June because the NBC owed the medical aid fund about N$15 million.
“It is true that the national broadcaster is challenged with arrears as regards the medical aid payments for the past few months, which have accumulated to an amount of close to N$15 million,” said Similo.
According to him, the NBC's board of directors had met with the medical aid fund to find a solution.
“During the most recent meeting held with NMC on 20 June 2017, we once again reiterated our commitment towards the said weekly payment. We also requested NMC to accommodate the NBC until the end of August 2017 to allow the necessary payment arrangements to come to fruition,” Similo said.
He added: “NMC committed to referring our request to their Board of Trustees, hence our disappointment with the premature announcement of the suspension of the medical aid services.”
The NBC's cash-flow problems were exacerbated by government budget cuts, Similo said, making it hard for the broadcaster to honour its obligations.
“It is indeed very sad that the current recessionary economic climate and the unexpected reduction of the government subsidy to NBC from N$252 million to N$179 million with a cash value of N$139 million for the same period is causing serious cash-flow challenges which hamper our monthly commitments to our creditors, including the medical aid fund,” said Similo.
“As management, we acknowledge the unfortunate situation and will remain steadfast in our efforts to engage our shareholder for assistance to remedy this unfortunate state of affairs.”
NBC chief commercial officer Umbi Karuihe-Upi told Namibian Sun that the issue had been brought to the attention of the line minister, Tjekero Tweya.
“It is with the minister, we need the money,” she said.
Questions sent to NMC's principal officer, Alison Begley, were not answered by the time of going to press.
The NBC has promised to make weekly payments of N$50 000 to Namibia Medical Care as a means to remedy the situation until the end of August. The national broadcaster is now waiting on the NMC board of trustees to make a decision on the matter.
NBC director-general Stanley Similo upon enquiry confirmed that employees had been without coverage since 1 June because the NBC owed the medical aid fund about N$15 million.
“It is true that the national broadcaster is challenged with arrears as regards the medical aid payments for the past few months, which have accumulated to an amount of close to N$15 million,” said Similo.
According to him, the NBC's board of directors had met with the medical aid fund to find a solution.
“During the most recent meeting held with NMC on 20 June 2017, we once again reiterated our commitment towards the said weekly payment. We also requested NMC to accommodate the NBC until the end of August 2017 to allow the necessary payment arrangements to come to fruition,” Similo said.
He added: “NMC committed to referring our request to their Board of Trustees, hence our disappointment with the premature announcement of the suspension of the medical aid services.”
The NBC's cash-flow problems were exacerbated by government budget cuts, Similo said, making it hard for the broadcaster to honour its obligations.
“It is indeed very sad that the current recessionary economic climate and the unexpected reduction of the government subsidy to NBC from N$252 million to N$179 million with a cash value of N$139 million for the same period is causing serious cash-flow challenges which hamper our monthly commitments to our creditors, including the medical aid fund,” said Similo.
“As management, we acknowledge the unfortunate situation and will remain steadfast in our efforts to engage our shareholder for assistance to remedy this unfortunate state of affairs.”
NBC chief commercial officer Umbi Karuihe-Upi told Namibian Sun that the issue had been brought to the attention of the line minister, Tjekero Tweya.
“It is with the minister, we need the money,” she said.
Questions sent to NMC's principal officer, Alison Begley, were not answered by the time of going to press.
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