There
are some 113 contractors who are not receiving payment on time.
Mirror was, however, informed that payment for two fortnights were
still outstanding to the contractors.
One payment was reportedly made to the contractors last Tuesday.
One disturbed contractor explained that the ordinary workers receive
pay on time.
“Each contractor has two accounts; the operations and the
salaries account.
“Monies are released into the salaries account for workers
to be paid fortnightly.
“The company is run from the operations account -- that is
payment for equipment maintenance, salaries for office workers,
health surcharge and Value Added Tax (VAT).
“Monies have not been coming into the operations account.
“Monies are, however, released in the salaries account for
the common workers to get payment,” a contractor explained.
Without the operation fee, contractors, told Mirror, it was difficult
to survive.
“We are faced with a situation where we don’t have money
to buy string and gas to operate the weed wacker.
“We end up with penalties for late payment of health surcharge
and VAT.
“How are we expected to pay bills on time when we are not
getting the money?” a contractor asked.
Another contractor complained of not being able to conduct the financial
affairs of his home.
“It is not a situation where we are missing one payment, it’s
more than one.
“It is really hard to survive as a CEPEP contractor,”
a contractor explained.
CEPEP contractors said Minister of Public Utilities, Pennelope Beckles
called a meeting with contractors last year and promised to look
into the matter but nothing was done.
Programme Manager at CEPEP Kwesi Atiba denied the allegation. |
