Workers do not get holiday pay at factory in Slonim

The employees of the Slonim worsted fabrics and spinning factory were sent on forced holidays.

At the enterprise a chimney of the local boiler house crashed down in March, which provided a large part of the town with heating. On 21 April one of the shifts was sent on forced holidays. On 12 May the time of the holidays ended, but the people have not yet gotten the holiday pay, which follows from phone calls to the Slonim Newspaper’s editorial office.

“From 21 Aril we were sent on holidays. This never happened before that in April we were sent on holidays. Moreover, on 12 May we needed to start working again, but we had not received the holiday pay. Why are they violating our rights and interests, we are not asking anything more than we are entitled to, they should just pay us what is guaranteed by the law. With our problem we appealed to the labour and social protection department of the region executive committee, but not one helped. The Labour Code states that an employer is obliged to pay an average salary for the time of the paid holidays no later than two days before the start of the holidays. Moreover, we have the inventory pretty worn out: carts for carrying yarn will soon fall apart, their service life has long run out. We told that to the enterprise’s experts, and she told us to chip in and buy new carts”, - the people spoke in indignation.

In order to clarify the situation, journalists addressed the enterprise’s acting director Taisija Liebiedz. This is how she commented on the situation:

- Before going on vacation the employees were warned that due the situation at the enterprise all the vacation pays would be made together with the salary.

- But this is a violation of the labour legislation?

- What can we do, where shall we get the money? You know that the chimney crashed down, additional funds are required for its restoration. We need to manage to repair it before the next heating season comes. Now we are in the following situation: either we make the advance holiday pay, but do not pay the salary, or leave the town without heating in winter. We are not refusing to make the holiday pay, we will do it together with the wages.

- When exactly?

- According to the collective agreement, we are obliged to pay before the 25th of each month.

We would remind that in late February the chairman of the Bellegprom concern and the director of the Slonim worsted fabrics and spinning factory were detained when taking a bribe. Over a million dollars was confiscated in the course of the investigation, gold bars, elite cars arrested as well as several apartments in Minsk, expensive household appliances and office equipment.