December salaries were withheld, say NIMT employees
Company struggling, ‘not broke’
Claims that the Namibia Institute of Mining and Technology is broke may be enough to tank its reputation, executive director Ralph Bussel said.
The Namibia Institute of Mining and Technology (NIMT) finds itself in hot water after employees have claimed that they did not receive their December salaries.
According to one worried employee, who wished to remain anonymous, the company paid out 13th cheques as well as full salaries to some employees while others like himself only received the 13th cheque.
"During the year, a 13th cheque or bonus is given either on our birthday or in December if we prefer it that way. Some employees like myself chose to get the bonus in December and when we did, we didn't receive our salaries," he explained.
NIMT executive director Ralph Bussel admitted that while some employees might not have received a bonus in December, it’s because they didn't opt for that option.
"Everyone received money on 22 December and throughout the year. Most of the employees received their 13th cheque during the course of the year, which is tax-free. This is an additional third of their income.
“The employees in management positions are the ones who were most affected. These may be the people who only received their bonuses. Everyone is well aware that NIMT has financial constraints, it's no secret," he said.
He, however, refuted claims that the institution is broke, adding: "There might not be money in the bank, but we have been working to get money. The bank accounts might even show zero, [but] we are not broke”.
Mismanagement
According to Bussel, NIMT is engaging with relevant stakeholders to see how best it can get out of this financial sinkhole.
He added that priority was given to the lowest-paid employees in December to ensure they received a bonus as well as a full salary.
Both the executive director and the aggrieved employees feel the situation is due to a mismanagement of funds.
According to employees, staff members raised concerns about Bussel’s recruitment and said he is ill-equipped to run the institution and manage its funds. Bussel, on the other hand, accused employees of squandering their salaries.
"We only paid them on the 22nd instead of 9 December because we thought it best if people received their salaries as close to payday as possible," he said.
Reputation
Although NIMT has found itself in similar financial difficulties in the past, Bussel said these new accusations might be enough to tank the institution's reputation.
"We are at the start of our new intake. Who will send their children here if there is no money or claims that we are broke?" he fumed.
NIMT's board of directors and management yesterday met with the employees' union representatives to help clarify the allegations.
According to a source, the meeting included negotiations for the way forward.
According to one worried employee, who wished to remain anonymous, the company paid out 13th cheques as well as full salaries to some employees while others like himself only received the 13th cheque.
"During the year, a 13th cheque or bonus is given either on our birthday or in December if we prefer it that way. Some employees like myself chose to get the bonus in December and when we did, we didn't receive our salaries," he explained.
NIMT executive director Ralph Bussel admitted that while some employees might not have received a bonus in December, it’s because they didn't opt for that option.
"Everyone received money on 22 December and throughout the year. Most of the employees received their 13th cheque during the course of the year, which is tax-free. This is an additional third of their income.
“The employees in management positions are the ones who were most affected. These may be the people who only received their bonuses. Everyone is well aware that NIMT has financial constraints, it's no secret," he said.
He, however, refuted claims that the institution is broke, adding: "There might not be money in the bank, but we have been working to get money. The bank accounts might even show zero, [but] we are not broke”.
Mismanagement
According to Bussel, NIMT is engaging with relevant stakeholders to see how best it can get out of this financial sinkhole.
He added that priority was given to the lowest-paid employees in December to ensure they received a bonus as well as a full salary.
Both the executive director and the aggrieved employees feel the situation is due to a mismanagement of funds.
According to employees, staff members raised concerns about Bussel’s recruitment and said he is ill-equipped to run the institution and manage its funds. Bussel, on the other hand, accused employees of squandering their salaries.
"We only paid them on the 22nd instead of 9 December because we thought it best if people received their salaries as close to payday as possible," he said.
Reputation
Although NIMT has found itself in similar financial difficulties in the past, Bussel said these new accusations might be enough to tank the institution's reputation.
"We are at the start of our new intake. Who will send their children here if there is no money or claims that we are broke?" he fumed.
NIMT's board of directors and management yesterday met with the employees' union representatives to help clarify the allegations.
According to a source, the meeting included negotiations for the way forward.
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