Monrovia – After working for over 30 years, retired Kolubo Anita Manow of TOTAL- Liberia has alleged that the company has failed to pay her pension benefits in spite of sustaining injury on the job.
Report by Bettie K. Johnson-Mbayo, [email protected]
According to her in 1974, more than 30 years ago, she took up an assignment with Mobil and stayed in the employ of the company until TOTAL took over.
“My employment rolled over until February 2016. I worked with dedication and utmost commitment for those years and when my time ended, I left without a penny.”
She expressed frustration that the company’s policy for payment of benefits had to be reversed by the managing director.
“Under the company’s initial policy, after reaching a milestone of 30 years in the employ of the company, I was to receive a cash bonus of 200 percent. That should have been calculated using my salary at the time.”
“He refused and only authorized a 100 percent cash bonus payment. Then, after the end of service with TOTAL, I went home with my hands swinging.”
She continued, “He called me days later and informed me of a check of US$1200 which I refused to accept. Since that day, he used my story to effect changes to other employees who worked for the company for 10, 15, 20, 25 years and above.”
She added that after working as a cashier for 30 years only one-month salary was given something she said she couldn’t sign for due to the number of years.
Kolubo said the company changed the procedural in November, months after she had reached 30 years in the employ of the company.
“In November, the procedural change was done and I turn 30 years in September so the change shouldn’t have affected me.”
She said her retirement letter was given her while serving her leave something she said shocked her adding that the company has not given her leave money as well.
Kolubo revealed that she slipped on her hand while at work 2013 and was taken to Dr. Kpoto Clinic.
“I cracked my wrist and the company sent me to Ghana to improve my hand but up to date it has not improved because I am a right-handed person, I don’t write anymore neither do many things I used to do, and the company has failed to give me my benefits.”
She threatened to take the company to court if they failed to give her benefits.
Kolubo alleged that the company refused for workers union to be established at the same time accusing the Labor Ministry of not seeking the welfare of workers.
Kolubo said as for the folks in the 5-year category, bonus payment was completely canceled. The company took over like her instance, there have been a number of policy changes at TOTAL Liberia including the revision of the housing policy that initially ensured that rent of all employees assigned out of Monrovia paid by the company.
“The sad thing is, it was my first employment and my last employment. All that is left of my over 40yrs of stay is the fond memory.”
When contacted TOTAL-Liberia Human Resource Manager Teewon Paye requested FrontPage Africa to do a formal communication before they can formally respond.
“I am not obligated to give you a formal response when a formal communication has not been addressed to us and this is a formal entity, as a journalist if you have issues or Anita has issues she can do a formal communication and we will give a formal response.