NIMT pays staff half of December salaries

WALVIS BAY - The Namibian Institute of Mining and Technology (NIMT) has managed to pay at least 50% of the outstanding December salaries to its employees.

Although NIMT did not confirm the payments yesterday, employees of the institution indicated to New Era some of them received half of their outstanding salaries last Thursday while others received less than the 50%.

The institution, which has been facing financial difficulties for years, failed to pay its employees on time in November and December last year.

“Yes, we received 50% of our December salary last Thursday. Our November salaries was also paid in full, although it was also done in instalments,” one of the workers told New Era yesterday.

According to her, their usual salaries are paid on the 25th of each month.

She added that the delay in salaries resulted in some of them being charged honouring fees by their respective financial institutions while they also defaulted on their rent, housing and car repayments.

“It is very difficult to honour some of the debts with our half salaries as we have to travel back for work and also buy stationaries for our children. We are even worried that we might not even get paid on Monday for January,” she said.

Deputy executive director in the higher education ministry, Raimo Naanda under which NIMT falls, earlier said the institution has seen some challenges over the years and that the ministry is working on it.

“We are in the process of totally transforming NIMT but we are currently busy sorting out the legal aspects of the institution. There will definitely be some changes at NIMT,” he said recently.

– edeklerk@nepc.com.na