By Donstance Koroma
The Human Resource Manager, Guoji Investment Company Limited, Tommy Sam, have told this medium that allegations made by staff – in relation to termination of service without benefit, the payment of a monthly salary to a labor officer attached at the company and the alleged forceful signing of new contract, whose nature and term of services, remain unexplained and the multiple job that they are forced to do – are allegations that do not have any iota of truth.
The Human Resource person pointed out that, as far as management is concerned, they are operating within the boundaries of Sierra Leone. They are therefore bound by the laws governing the Ministry of Labor and by extension the country’s Labor Congress.
He disclosed that, indeed, the service of staff in the marketing and administration departments was terminated based on poor performance with termination benefits paid to all as stipulated by the labor law.
Tommy Sam noted that, a new contract with six months’ duration, with salary within the minimum wage, was also given to those terminated as an option for which he said some have already appended their signatures to.
He also debunked allegation of the management paying labor officer attached to company monthly salary separate from the one received from the consolidated funds.
He continued that Guoji does not have any labor officer attached, but stated that labor inspectors usually stormed in for on-the-spot check without the prior notice of the company management.
He said all staffs of the company are performing their duties for which they are employed and any other jobs that the company needs the service of outside laborers, some of their security guards will opt to be in the number because the said security guard is sure of his own money equally to all he pointed.
The Human Resource Manager said the company is going through transition from import and selling to production, hence the reason for the financial difficulties which, he said, cannot be unconnected with the termination of service because the work load has reduced drastically.
He reveled that, before the coming of the Ebola Virus Disease, the company had been spending beyond their overhead cost, which is an indication that business is not the way it used to be.
Tommy Sam recalled that the National Workshop at Cline Town was a dumping ground for garbage and other unwanted materials before their coming in 2003. He therefore called on the public to have confidence on them because they are human and mistakes are bound to happen, but also assured the public that the company will continue to respect the laws of the land at all times.
He made these revelations during an exclusive interview with this medium on Tuesday 10th April, 2018 at his office, Guoji Investment Company Limited, Cline Town, Freetown.