The situation of retirees from the Générale des Carrières et des Mines (Gécamines) continues to raise concerns in Haut-Katanga. Meeting on Tuesday, September 29 in Lubumbashi, more than 1,300 former workers denounced the long wait for payment of their final settlements, twelve years after their retirement.
In their declaration, the retirees state that 960 of their colleagues died without receiving payment of their entitlements. This situation is all the more worrying because, at the time the declaration was read, four bodies of former Gécamines agents were in the morgue, according to information provided by their representatives.
A CLAIM THAT HAS LASTED SINCE 2014
Célestine Mande, president of the Gécamines retirees, carried this claim on behalf of the former workers. She called for the involvement of the President of the Republic, Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi, so that measures could be taken to allow the settlement of their final payments.
For these former agents, the main demand concerns the payment of the sums allegedly owed to them following their retirement. The length of the wait is also a source of concern, as several beneficiaries died before receiving their entitlements.
CIVIL SOCIETY CALLED UPON
This situation also concerns civil society. Maître Hubert Tshiswaka believes that the prolonged non-payment of final settlements constitutes a problem related to the social rights of former workers.
The case thus brings back to the forefront the situation of Gécamines agents who retired in 2014 and who claim they are still waiting for the settlement of their final payments.
The retirees are asking the competent authorities as well as Gécamines management to examine their file and take the necessary measures to allow the payment of their entitlements. They also call for intervention at the national level so that this situation can be resolved.
Héritier Maila / Patient Lukusa
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