By Donstance Koroma
Save the Children International stands accused of unlawful dismissal of its Head of Logistics in their Kaliahun/Pujehun office. The dismissal was made because the Head of Logistics usedan authorized vehicle from Kaliahun to Kenema.
Save the Children had further accused their staff of using the vehicle without GPS, no manifest for his trip to Kenema, not authorized to drive as the logbook was not filled properly and had also taken one authorized staff onboard the vehicle without approved waiver.
The Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Security, Lansana M. Dumbuya, on Tuesday 7th August, 2018 at his New England Ville office, noted that Swarray Lahai, the staff member, did not commit a serious offence that could have warranted him to be dismissed.
He noted they will encourage Save the Children International to revert to compensational grounds instead of dismissal and pay the staff member his terminal benefits.
The Deputy Minister acknowledged the fact that Save the Children strongly holds the view that the Head of Logistic at Kaliahun was not authorized to drive. In fact, he did so without manifest. He also stated that Save the Children International presented the document for the procurement of the spare part that the staff member allegedly used to move the vehicle, but that document was not yet fully prepared.
“Save the Children International have all the avenues for amicable settlement of the issue, but the ministry will give them another chance. If they fail to comply we will refer the matter to the Industrial Court,” the Deputy Minister noted.
It will be recalled that, on the 10th May, 2018, the Labour Ministry had invited Save the Children International for hearing. In that meeting, the Internal Controls Manager, Francis Mbayoh and the Human Resource Director, Victoria Smith, represented the organization.
The representatives of Save the Children International had, according to our investigations, highlighted the above issues which led to the dismissal of the staff member without benefit.
Findings are that, in 2008, the management of Save the Children International, Kailahun and Pujehun, agreed for the Head of Logistics to start riding a motorbike as a result of his role in the Logistics Department. This was approved by the Field Manager. A driving/riding license was obtained for the staff member with funds from Save the Children International.
Findings have also revealed that in 2010, staff members of the fleet team from Save the Children International Freetown were sent to conduct a driving test for Swarray Lahai. Sources have intimated that the young man had successfully passed the test.
Facts are that Save the Children at Kailahun only prepared manifest for Kiss Movement organized on Mondays and Thursdays and no manifest was developed for the procurement of materials in Kenema, Bo or field activity by programs.
Investigation has also unearthed that there was no GPS installed on vehicles in Kailahun and country programs. The advent of GPS, according to our source, came into operation only when one of the Freetown based drivers got an accident along the Masiaka–Mile 91 highway with 10 commercial passengers of which one was fatal.
The frequent accidents by Save the Children drivers in Freetown and other field offices, with the exception of Kailahun, had prompted the installation of GPS in vehicles before they are sent to the fields.
Inside sources in the Head office of Save the Children International, Freetown,havewhispered to this medium that the vehicle sent to Kailahun is without GPS unto date.