Africa-Press – Senegal. The debt to be paid by the State of Senegal to construction companies amounts to more than 200 billion CFA francs, we learned on Thursday from the secretary general of the National Union of Workers of building construction, wood and private practical work (SNTC/BTP), Alassane Ndao.
« The state of the debts of our affiliated companies results in payment arrears of more than 200 billion CFA francs, just for the large companies in the sector such as the CDE, the CSE and Eiffage Senegal », he said. -he declares.
Mr. Ndao was speaking at a press conference given by the SNTC/BTP to « denounce the situation faced by construction companies in Senegal ».
« The hour is very serious. It is neither more nor less than the sustainability of our companies, for which our brave workers have braved the sun, the heat, the dust and the bad weather, » said the trade unionist.
« The non-payment of this debt risks destroying the hopes of hundreds of workers who have economically contributed to the influence of the country », he added, inviting the President of the Republic and the Minister of Finance and Budget to « definitively settle this issue ».
The SNTC/BTP says it wishes the “personal involvement” of the Head of State and that of the said Minister in settling the debt in question.
They invite them to “find appropriate solutions as soon as possible to the serious and recurring difficulties that [the] construction sector is going through”.
“We know how to count on the appropriate intentions that you would like to give to the Minister of Finance, for the mobilization of the funds necessary for the definitive resolution of this nagging problem of the debt owed to our companies”, added Alassane Ndao.
Mr. Ndao also denounced the awarding of certain projects, including the Dakar-Tivaouane highway to foreign companies, to the detriment of Senegalese construction companies. This attitude risks « killing the sector », he said, inviting the State of Senegal to favor national companies in the award of public contracts.
The members of the SNTC/BTP also wish to meet the President of the Republic, Macky Sall, to explain to him « aloud and intelligible » the situation they are experiencing because of the non-payment of the debt.
Meetings are planned to discuss the difficulties of the construction industry, according to him.
« Loudly, we call for a meeting of our sector with all stakeholders to talk about health and safety at work, respect for workers’ rights, respect for national and international standards, especially for certain multinational companies, the Chinese for example, which bring rain and shine to the great displeasure of the workers, » he denounced.
The general secretary of the SNTC/BTP invited his comrades to cultivate union solidarity and to register on the electoral rolls in order to fully play their role in the life of the nation.
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