Radio managers suspended

FOUR managers at internet streaming radio station Megazone Bollywood have been suspended after allegedly failing to pitch for work for more than a week amid a pay dispute.

As Megazone boss Vishal Maharaj recovers in hospital for an undisclosed condition, the station has scrambled to fill in the slots of the four staff members, who face disciplinary action.

The four declined to be named but claimed they had not been paid regularly and were struggling to make ends meet.

They began working at the station in November 2016, a few months after Megazone Bollywood was launched, just as rival Lotus FM was losing listeners due to a controversial local content policy.

“We basically planted the seed and watched the station grow to where it is.

“We were not earning a lot but we loved what we did,” a channel manager told POST, adding that the pay issue was hurting them.

“We cry actual tears at night. Some of us are slowly falling into a depression.”

Three of them are presenters. They claim they are being accused of malicious damage to property, trespassing and sabotage, defeating and obstruction of justice, intimidation and violating the Telecommunications Act.

Megazone’s attorney, Ashika Maharaj, said the station had been running smoothly and the affected employees would be given a fair opportunity to respond to the allegations against them.

Asked about the pay issue, she said: “With the current slow economic climate, there is a ripple effect of slow-paying clients that filters down to our overheads but (they) are being managed successfully.

“We anticipate an overwhelming financial breakthrough as the brand has attracted international investors.”