Janaury 26, 2022
In spite of the cancellation of its operations at the time the company was poised to embark on full scale mining, workers of Sierramin Bauxite Mining are now breathing a sigh of relief with huge chunk of salaries paid to them.
The salaries covers a couple of months backlog, which was accumulated due to the COVID 19 induced economic crunch that generally affected businesses around the world; Sierramin Bauxite being no exception to that dark phase of business climate.
CEO Umar Bah of Sierramin Bauxite has stated that the backlog salary payment is a reflection of their protecting their integrity and demonstration of not shying away from genuine obligation to the workforce.
He said the workers have been very understanding and patient during the challenging months of no pay, but they held onto the conviction that things will be fine, conscious of the fact that we had always promptly paid them. He especially applauded the workers for resisting external manipulations without resorting to protest actions during the dire months of no pay.
Speaking to a cross section of the workers they indicated their thanks and appreciation to Sierramin Bauxite Limited for the backlog salary payment even as their operation has been curtailed.
According to Soriba Conteh, it has been very difficult going for months without salary but our boss Mr. Umar bah has been reassuring us that their partners were going to come to the rescue and pay us in full for the months we have gone without pay.
Clearly, this backlog salary payment is boost to hundreds of Port Loko households for Sierramin had in its employ over 70 percent of indigenes.
In the upbeat mood that currently pervades the company precincts and Port Loko environs as a result of the Sierramin Bauxite Limited salary payment, the workers have generally expressed the hope that the dark cloud over the Port Loko Bauxite operation can be resolved for Sierramin Bauxite Limited to recommence the project for the benefit of Port Loko residents and the country as a whole.
Sierramin Bauxite Limited British investor Alex Preston is working assiduously to get the government of Sierra Leone review the undue license cancellation by the National Mineral Agency working concertedly with Ministry of Mines.