CEMACO workers still waiting for severance payment

By Terresa McCall
Reporter-SKNVibes.com

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – COMPLAINTS have reached this media house from former CEMACO workers who indicated that little more than three months have elapsed since they were made redundant owing to the company’s change of ownership and they are yet to receive their severance packages.

The then government-owned Central Marketing Corporation (CEMACO), which employed more than 50 workers, was sold to Frank B. Armstrong Limited and on July 31, 2008 the workers were given letters informing they were being made redundant.

SKNVibes spoke to a number of the ex-workers since then, who explained that they are in a state of despair owing to the fact that, even after being promised assistance in this regard, they have not found jobs and have not yet been issued their redundancy packages.

One individual told this media house, since she was made redundant she has found employment but she needs to be paid that which is owed to her. She also expressed concern for those individuals who have not yet found employment and have monthly financial obligations.

“On the 31st of July, we were made redundant. We were given out letter of termination on the 30th of July at 2:30 in the afternoon. We had stock taking on Thursday and that was the last that we worked. We were promised that they will find jobs for us. Some people like me find jobs on our own and some people are still at home. Some have examination fees to pay for their children in January; but beside that, there are electricity bills and other bills to pay and mouths to feed.”

Another ex-worker of CEMACO told SKNVibes that the situation is disheartening and has advanced to the stage of frustration. The individual expressed that the process of issuing the severance packages needs to be expedited, as it would assist those persons who have not yet secured employment in meeting whatever monthly obligations they may have.

~~Adz:Left~~ “It’s very sad to know that people are made redundant and we cannot receive what belongs to us when we have worked for it. I have not worked there for as long as others. 

I am not only concerned about myself because I know that there is nothing much I will get, but I am concerned about others who worked for 33 and eight years, 25 and all these years and still not working.  One lady who worked over eight years told me she doesn’t have any money and she doesn’t know what to do because she was expecting the money last week and she is still at home…and I am very much concerned for those who do not have anything to do.”

According to information coming from another former CEMACO worker, when they were made redundant on July 31, 2008, they were issued their pay package which included payment in lieu of notice. He also explained they were promised that within four weeks they would have been issued their severance packages. 

The individual further said he was told that an error was made regarding the amount of money to be paid out to the ex-employees and that may be the reason for the delay.

Permanent Secretary (PS) in the Ministry of Housing, Agriculture, Fisheries, Cooperatives and Consumer Affairs, Dr. Hermia Morton Anthony was contacted by this media house concerning the issue and she promised that she would make investigations into the matter.

After her inquiries, she confirmed that the severance packages were unpaid but noted, “There is quite a bit of diligent work being done to ensure that all the workers are fairly compensated.”

The PS promised that the ex-CEMACO workers would be issued their severance packages shortly but was unable to identify a specific date on which they should be expected.

Dr. Morton-Anthony also addressed the issue of government finding alternative employment for the redundant workers.  The said she is not aware that that was one of the conditions or promises of the deal.