No pay, no work, says Salini
The Neckartal Dam contractors will not resume construction activities until it is paid an overdue bill of N$600 million for work completed over the last four months by the ministry of agriculture, water and forestry, Salini spokesperson Gilles Castonguay told Namibian Sun.
Salini recently reduced its 12-hour work shifts to seven and a half hours to circumvent layoffs and the payment of overtime to workers and subcontractors.
“Salini Namibia will resume work once it has been paid.
Work has been reduced to a minimum and it will be the case until we get paid,” Castonguay said in an update.
The slowdown in construction activities at the Neckartal site is not expected to affect the completion of the project by the end of the year, according to him.
“We are working to complete the project on schedule, we are working towards that target,” said Castonguay.
When asked for comment on the payment due to Salini, Castonguay would not comment.
“The company prefers to refrain from commenting on the matter. Thank you for contacting us,” Castonguay said in an email response.
The dam's workforce of around 2 500 was informed of the company's decision in a letter on Friday.
The company normally operates on a 24-hour schedule with two 12-hour shifts.
Company insiders told Nampa last week that the government only paid a portion of an accumulated amount due to Salini at the beginning of September.
Nampa also reported that the cabinet committee on treasury had met last week with a view to approaching NamWater to secure the funding necessary to pay Salini. This despite an earlier announcement by agriculture minister John Mutorwa that Salini would be paid by last week Friday already.
“The decision was taken after a unanimous agreement that the abandonment of the project would be inconceivable and with due consideration that this dam, like all others in the country, will be on the balance sheet of NamWater,” Mutorwa said at an agricultural expo in Keetmanshoop.
To date, Salini has been paid N$3.1 billion.
-additional reporting by Nampa
OGONE TLHAGE
Salini recently reduced its 12-hour work shifts to seven and a half hours to circumvent layoffs and the payment of overtime to workers and subcontractors.
“Salini Namibia will resume work once it has been paid.
Work has been reduced to a minimum and it will be the case until we get paid,” Castonguay said in an update.
The slowdown in construction activities at the Neckartal site is not expected to affect the completion of the project by the end of the year, according to him.
“We are working to complete the project on schedule, we are working towards that target,” said Castonguay.
When asked for comment on the payment due to Salini, Castonguay would not comment.
“The company prefers to refrain from commenting on the matter. Thank you for contacting us,” Castonguay said in an email response.
The dam's workforce of around 2 500 was informed of the company's decision in a letter on Friday.
The company normally operates on a 24-hour schedule with two 12-hour shifts.
Company insiders told Nampa last week that the government only paid a portion of an accumulated amount due to Salini at the beginning of September.
Nampa also reported that the cabinet committee on treasury had met last week with a view to approaching NamWater to secure the funding necessary to pay Salini. This despite an earlier announcement by agriculture minister John Mutorwa that Salini would be paid by last week Friday already.
“The decision was taken after a unanimous agreement that the abandonment of the project would be inconceivable and with due consideration that this dam, like all others in the country, will be on the balance sheet of NamWater,” Mutorwa said at an agricultural expo in Keetmanshoop.
To date, Salini has been paid N$3.1 billion.
-additional reporting by Nampa
OGONE TLHAGE
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