For 20 long months, sanitation workers of Zoomlion in the Atebubu/Amantin Municipality, Bono East Region, have swept streets, cleared waste, and kept communities clean but without a single salary payment.
Now, the mostly female workforce says they are at breaking point. At a press conference in Atebubu, their spokesperson, Madam Alice Osei, painted a grim picture of the human toll: broken homes, children missing school, and families unable to afford daily meals.
“We have been chasing our salaries for almost two years, but nothing has come. Some of us are single mothers, and we cannot pay our children’s fees. We cannot even feed our families properly,” Madam Osei, also the Vegetable Queen at the Atebubu Market, lamented.
The workers accused the waste management firm of showing “no concern” for their plight and warned that only swift government intervention could force the company to release their arrears.
Despite the crushing hardship, they continue to report to work every day, ensuring the municipality remains clean, a sacrifice they say has gone unrecognised and unrewarded.
“We are still at post because we care about the environment and public health. But how long can we survive without pay?” Madam Osei questioned, her voice breaking with frustration
Economic and Social Impact
The situation could have broader consequences for Atebubu and surrounding communities. With over a year and a half of unpaid wages, purchasing power among the workers could collaps, affecting traders, market women, and small businesses that rely on their patronage.
Families of the workers face worsening poverty, with children at risk of dropping out of school due to unpaid fees.
Furthermore, healthcare access is also under threat as many can no longer afford medical bills, raising public health concerns.
If the salary crisis persists, experts fear it could undermine the sanitation workforce’s morale, leading to reduced service delivery and a potential rise in waste accumulation, a development that could threaten public health and tarnish the municipality’s image.
Hence, the workers are calling on the government, municipal authorities, and relevant stakeholders to intervene immediately before the situation escalates.
