Mass Dismissal Hits GN TV

About thirty workers of GN TV-Ghana, one of the media outlets of Groupe Nduom, were this week laid off by management in a manner that seems strange and possibly not in full compliance with the Labour Law.

While no reason was given for the action, which looked like a mass dismissal, the affected employees were also not given any prior notice.

A letter of termination dated 27^th August 30, 2018 and signed by Frederick Boamah, Head of Recruitment and Selection, was also silent on whether or not the one month payment in lieu of notice stated therein was in addition to “all other allowances that were due to the employee, leave and off days”, as demanded by law.

Information gathered by THE PUBLISHER strongly suggests that workers’ tier-3 contributions could also be affected.

The termination letter, a copy of which has been intercepted by the paper reads as follows:

Termination of appointment

“Management wishes to inform you that your services with GN TV are no longer needed. The termination of your employment takes effect immediately.

“The company is therefore exercising it’s right to terminate under clause 7.3 of the HR Manual by giving you the required statutory notice. However, you will be paid one-month salary in lieu of notice. Kindly hand over your duties and responsibilities to the general manager, GN TV.

You are further required to hand over all GN TV property in your possession to the general manager GN TV.

“By a copy of this letter the payroll manager is requested to pay one-month salary in lieu of the notice thereafter stop the payment of your salary forthwith.

The managing directed of Qualtek is also requested to deactivate you from the system forthwith”.

Most worrying to the affected workers is the fate of their tier-3 contributions, which appears to be in limbo. Some of the workers, who spoke to THE PUBLISHER on condition of anonymity, disclosed that the company handling their contributions, Penn Trust, told them to expect half of their accumulated contributions for now.

Section 63 of the Labour Law states in part that: “A terminated employee is given notice before the termination date is due. If the employer insists on immediate termination, then they must give pay in lieu of notice. This is referred to as severance pay and includes a month’s pay in addition to all other allowances that were due to this employer, leave and off days included.

“The notice differs depending on how long the person in question has been the organization’s employer. If one works for less than three months before termination, they are not entitled to any severance pay”.

THE PUBLISHER is closely monitoring the development, as it unfolds.