SANGUEM
Staff and workers at the Sanguem Municipal Council (SMC) have been working without pay for the last two months.
While the staff and workers have been silent in the matter, SMC Councillor Meshu D'Costa claimed that non-payment of salaries to the staff and workers has severely affected output and morale as there is uncertainty on when the salaries will be paid.
“On account of inordinate delay in the payment of salaries, staff and workers are facing hardships, which the council fails to realise. Just because they are quiet does not mean that the situation is okay with them,” said D’Costa.
When contacted, SMC Vice Chairperson Queiroz Cruz told 'The Goan' that the council normally pays salaries partly from the grant received from the government and partly from the council fund.
“The SMC had already released part payment to some daily wage workers and the staff working in the office will be paid their pending salaries in the next few days,” said Cruz.
Cruz informed that the government has already sanctioned grants to the council and the final disbursement is pending before the accounts department. “The funds will be released soon and the payment will be effected immediately on receipt of the funds,” added Cruz.
He said the council is facing a severe financial crisis because of delays caused by municipal shop owners in paying their rent on time.
