SLPTA ‘soak’ di ‘gron’ for 174 SLRTC Workers
On Tuesday, 14th October this year, former workers of the Sierra Leone Road Transport Corporation (SLRTC) happily received their end of service benefits and redundancy package at the Corporation’s works yard complex at PWD old road, east of Freetown.
The disbursement came into being through the hard work and astute leadership of Ken Greene, former General Manager of SLRTC, now Director General of the Sierra Leone Public Transport Authority (SLPTA).
It could be recalled that sometime in 2023, Sierra Leone Parliament dissolved the operations of SLRTC and legislated an act for the establishment of SLPTA, which is now the regulatory body of government buses and transportation.
The disbursement and payment of benefits, which included leave allowances, redundancy, etc. was paid to the former staff of the Sierra Leone Road Transport Corporation (SLRTC) in the presence of journalists, some state authorities and the workers themselves.
The ceremony marked a major milestone in the government’s efforts to prioritize the welfare of project-affected persons.
Doing the rounds of the payment process, it was clear that a total of 174 staff members, redundant in two phases, received the huge amount of over fifteen billion Leones. In 2020, 65 staff members were laid off as part of efforts to rightsize the institution and achieve an optimum staff size that is commensurate with actual revenue generation.
Additionally, in September 2024, 109 staff members were made redundant, comprising 70 permanent staff and 39 contract staff, following the transition of SLRTC from an operator to a regulator.
The total of Le 15,603,705 .00 paid by the government of Sierra Leone through SLPTA was meant to settle all staff liabilities, including gratuity, redundancy compensation, and leave allowances. The breakdown of the payment includes NLE 12,723,947.00 for gratuity, redundancy compensation, and leave allowances, and NLE 2,879,759.00 for NASSIT and suppliers.
Mohamed Zoka Kamara of SLPTA described the payment as a “big blessing” for the workers, commending President Julius Maada Bio for prioritizing the payment of project-affected persons. “Other entities have similar problems, but they are not resolved. They are lucky to receive theirs,” Kamara stated. He emphasized that the benefit paid is a transition benefit, designed to support the workers as they transition back into the job market.
Director-General of SLPTA, Ken Greene, commended the workers for their patience and cooperation throughout the process. Greene revealed that he worked tirelessly with the Ministry of Labour and Finance to ensure the payment exercise came to fruition. “We appreciate the workers for their patience. We’ve worked closely with the Labour Ministry and Finance to make this happen, and we’re grateful for the support,” Greene stated.
The payment exercise has been welcomed by stakeholders, who praised the government’s efforts to prioritize workers’ welfare. Abdulai Conteh of the Ministry of Labour, admonished the workers to utilize their benefits wisely, while Alphonso Manley, representing Civil Society, thanked the government for prioritizing the payment of former SLRTC staff.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Transport, Kwame Yankson, commended the workers for their patience and urged them to put their benefits into good use. “They believe in action, and they appreciate the support of the President,” Yankson stated.
The successful payment exercise has set a precedent for other entities with similar challenges. Many organizations in Sierra Leone are grappling with the issue of unpaid entitlements to former employees, but the SLPTA’s achievement demonstrates that with commitment and determination, such challenges can be overcome.