Not Enough Funds, Company Can’t Pay Wages: Owner
Green Oaks Holding Limited owner, Salvik Ilnitsky, says the company has insufficient funds in its accounts to pay pending wages to workers.
The issue was highlighted a few weeks ago after 25 staff members from the Ukranian-owned joinery company decided to walk out from the office in Votualevu in Nadi to stage their grievances.
“The wages due are for three weeks from May 17 to June 10. If my arrangements work out then the full amount will be paid within the next few days,” Mr Ilnitsky said.
“I am working on various solutions and guarantee that all wages will be paid in full.”
When questioned why there was delay in payments , Mr Ilnitsky responded, “there is insufficient funds in the account at this particular moment”.
The amount due to workers was about $16,000.
Mr Ilnitsky said most claims made by workers against the company were false and they havd not approached him to show their grievances.
“None of the employees tried to get in touch with me because I am hardly in the office trying to solve these issues,” he said.
38 year-old, Nilesh Kumar of Nasau Settlement in Nadi said he had been an employee of the company for three years.
For the past two weeks, he added that he had borrowed money from neighbours and relatives to provide for his family.
“I am really worried because I’ve taken a loan from the bank and household items are on hire purchase,” Mr Kumar said.
“I need money to pay my dues because I’ve been given a notice last few days that if I don’t pay up by the end of this month they will repossess these goods.
“I went to the stage of using all the money left in my savings account just to buy groceries and other family expenses,” Mr Kumar said.
Employment, Productivity and Industrial Relations Permanent Secretary Salaseini Daunabuna confirmed that the matter was being handled by the Labour Compliance Team in Nadi.
“We are investigating the matter within the ambit of the Employment Relations Act 2007,” she said.
“The ministry has contacted the employer and served on the employer a claim for the dues owed to workers.
“The employer has disputed the claim and we will look into pursuing this further through court processes.”
Edited by Percy Kean
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