“Do not take our people for granted” – Region 10 Chairman warns Communities Ministry

Regional Chairman of the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) of Region 10, Renis Morian has issued a stern warning to the Communities Ministry over what he said is the inhumane treatment of Strategic Investment Programme (SIP) workers.

The warning was issued during the recent Regional Health and Emergency Committee (RHEC) meeting where he alleged that the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary is delaying payment for these workers. According to the Regional Chairman, the workers have been underpaid for some time now and has resulted in increased economic challenges for single-parent mothers.
“Several of these workers are single-parent mothers who depend on this money to take care of themselves and family, but what is heart rendering is that they are forced to wait in many cases up to three weeks for their salaries and this cannot be entertained as these people are human beings,” he said.
Morian underscored that the complaints from the workers have increased significantly since the start of COVID.
He added that the SIP workers should no longer have to wait more than seven days for their monies, and warned that his intervention has averted a massive protest, warning that failure by the PS to take corrective actions will result in the SIP workers in Region 10 taking to the streets to express their frustrations and displeasure.
“Let me make this very clear, I am warning the PS, Mr Garrel, that the SIP workers in this region are not prepared to wait no more than seven days because if they continue to receive their monthly salary late then there will be massive protests and we should know that protests breed trouble. This is a warning and I trust that he pays heed to it as I do want no problem and or protest in this region. I am, therefore, appealing to him to allow common sense and a sense of humanity to take root,” he stressed.
During the meeting, the Chairman told the Committee that while he was expressing his views through the RHEC, he is prepared to take full responsibility for his comments, declaring that as the Regional Chairman, his primary objective is to look out for the region.
Expressing continued frustration, the Regional Chairman said that with increased difficulties, the Communities Ministry needs to be mindful that there will continue to be increased challenges. He added that a mere $25,000 a month is too minuscule.
“… this is a bread and butter issue and some comparison should be exercised as these are human beings who are experiencing challenges. These workers can no longer wait more than seven days, and besides, three weeks is woefully inadequate,” he declared.
Morian reiterated that the workers should be paid earlier, stating that paying them earlier would help them cushion some of the economic challenges that they are experiencing.
The workers last received an increase in 2016, bringing them to a meagre $25,000 a month.