Owed Gonokukufo Cattle Project workers in Malaita call on the National Government to settle longstanding labour arrears
THE National government through the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAL) owes workers at the Gono Kukufo Cattle Project in West Kwaio, Malaita Province, the sum of $1,234,908.00 since 2016, it was revealed.
And the cattle workers are calling on the National Government through MAL to settle this matter as soon as possible.
Speaking to Solomon Star in an exclusive interview, Chairman of the Gonokukufo Cattle Farm, Genesis Lae said they had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with MAL back in September of 2012.
Mr Lae said since 2016, they have not received any payment for their labour, adding that MAL has ignored them for the past eight years.
“Since 2016, we have been calling on MAL to settle our arrears but our calls were ignored.”
“The delay in addressing our issue is inhuman, especially, when we continue to work without being paid for our hard labour.
“We understand an MOU was signed between Gonokukufo Tribal Association and MAL in September 2012.
“The MOU is an open-ended one and it is still active to this day.
“Gonokukufo Tribal Association did not receive a termination letter regarding the MOU until this year, 2023, and we strongly believe that the MOU is still effective and it is only the National Government that has failed to honour the MOU.”
With that, Mr Lae said they are looking forward to receiving a positive feedback from the National Government, through MAL, to settle this long outstanding issue.
By WILSON SAENI in Auki
