Workers Frown As Steel Galaxy Makes P1m-Valued Donation

Employees at Steel Galaxy were left in shock after they learnt through social media that their employer made a donation valued at more than P1 million towards government’s fight against the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

This is despite the fact that the company had applied for wage subsidy from government and paid nothing out of its own coffers.

“This is really painful that we work this much for this company and they do not pay us full salaries despite having money. What hurts the most is that before we saw the social media post about the donation, we had been complaining that we were not even given the money from BURS in full, as we were given less than half of our salaries even for those earning less than P5,000. They should have at least given us our full halves from the protective equipment and a lump sum donation just rubbed salt into their wounds. The donation includes 20,000 surgical masks, 30,000 surgical gloves and 10,000 disposable gowns to the value of P750,000 and cash amounting to P255,000, which will go towards the COVID-19 Relief Fund. Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Employment, Labour Productivity and Skills Development, Kabelo Ebineng was on public television recently slamming companies that diverted staff salaries towards the COVID-19 Relief Fund contributions. Contacted for a comment, Steel Galaxy director Hu Zhongwen said they paid according to the guide provided by the government.

“We do everything according to guidelines and we paid according to what the government said is to be paid during the pandemic,” he said.

When pressed further on why he did not give employees full salaries, as it appears his company was capable, and also as to why they did not pay the full halves from BURS, Zhongwen promised to get back to this reporter. He had however not done so by press time.