Late pay for Bahamasair employees

Bahamasair Chairman Tommy Turnquest confirmed yesterday that the airline was unable to pay the salaries of its more than 500 employees last week because it “didn’t have any money to pay it”.

“They should’ve been paid by now,” Turnquest told The Nassau Guardian. 

“Bahamasair was late on its payments on Friday (December 4). Salaries were supposed to be paid on Friday past but Bahamasair didn’t have any money to pay them. The government has been funding Bahamasair in order to pay salaries. We eventually got the money on Tuesday. 

“What’s today? Thursday? I think some people were paid on Tuesday and some were paid on Wednesday.”

Turnquest said the government has asked that the airline not furlough anyone despite a global decline in air travel due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

He said the airline pays roughly $3.2 million in salaries each month.

“The government has agreed to fund those payments,” Turnquest said.

“Obviously, it’s a matter of cash flow in terms of when we get it and when we can pay it out. We’re also doing whatever we can at Bahamasair to make sure that we can begin to have some revenue enhancements… so we’re not in that predicament.”

Turnquest said last week was not the first time the company had issues paying employees.

“We were late before as well,” he said.

“You know, it’s unfortunate but we pay as soon as we get the money.”

In July, Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis said the government had to make a decision whether to continue paying Bahamasair workers their full salaries amid a pandemic that has left the national airline operating a reduced schedule.

One month before, Bahamasair Chief Executive Officer Tracy Cooper said the airline had hemorrhaged almost $10 million during its three-month shutdown over the summer.

He said the airline will likely see a 20 percent reduction in its schedule compared to last year, as it continues to pay out millions in static costs.

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source https://thenassauguardian.com/late-pay-for-bahamasair-employees/