WAMCO Employees Say Last Month's Salaries Still Unpaid

Employees of Waste Management Corporation (WAMCO) have said that they still have not received last month's salary, Adhadhu reports. An employee who provided information to the newspaper said that some employees were paid before the government holiday today, but the remaining staff have still not received their salaries. "Some people were paid before the holiday, [but] that too has still not been received by some employees, no foreigner has been given [it], some Maldivians have not received it," the employee said. Salary payments to WAMCO employees began being delayed from a certain point last year. Some employees said the first delays began around the 5th of the month, but that now every month's salary is received around the 10th of the following month. Employees have been expressing concern, saying that due to the delays they also have to pay fines when deadlines for rent and bills are missed. "There are also bills that have to be paid on a fixed date. If that money is not paid by the date, then the money will have to be paid along with a fine. The responsibility for these matters should not really have to be taken by WAMCO. It is a very sad thing that by the 10th of the month, a government company has not been able to pay last month's salary," a WAMCO employee said. Another employee said that while a specific period is set each month to pay rent and bills, when the money is delayed, pressure from landlords is also faced. "Every month a specific day is set aside to pay rent. To pay bills too. If rent and bills are not paid within that period, pressure is also faced from the landlord. Because of that, one also has to feel embarrassed," the employee said. Foreign employees working at WAMCO told the newspaper that they generally receive their salaries around the 15th of the current month, and said delays in sending money to their home countries are causing them many difficulties. Pension money deducted from WAMCO employees' salaries has not been deposited since October 16, 2024, although money is still deducted for pension when salaries are paid. WAMCO has acknowledged that pension money is not being paid to employees and has said by way of excuse that a large amount of money due to it from Malé City Council has not been received. Last month, the Finance Ministry cut a block grant of 19 million rufiyaa that was to be given to Malé City Council, saying the money was to be given to WAMCO. Statistics show that WAMCO, one of the government companies that employs the largest number of workers, spent 439.6 million rufiyaa last year alone on employees' salaries and allowances. By the end of last year, the company had around 3,500 employees, while a large number of employees were recruited to WAMCO during the campaign for the council elections held last April. According to the Privatization and Corporatization Board (PCB), WAMCO incurred a loss of 138 million rufiyaa in 2024. The company's largest loss last year was in the final quarter, at 55 million rufiyaa. The company incurred a loss of 61 million in 2024, while it incurred a loss of 93 million in 2023.