Employees of Khazar, Lider and ARB Sheki TV channels sent a joint letter to Meydan TV stating that they have not received their salaries in months.
One employee of ARB Sheki (formerly ‘Kanal S’) who preferred to remain anonymous in order to not risk losing their job, claimed that of the 150 employees working for the TV channel, approximately 70% of them have been unable to receive their salaries on time.
ARB runs with the support of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation.
“Only high-positioned employees with high salaries are paid. Director Reshad Mammadov claims that this is because of money – flow issues. However, of the five other regional branches of ARB TV, none of them face this problem. This issue is being created directly by Reshad Mammadov himself.”
The letter states that director Reshad Mammadov intimidates those who come forward with complaints and threatens to fire them. Employees who earn salaries of 1000 – 1500 manat per month are paid on time. Those who receive only 150 – 200 manat are left without their monthly paycheck.
“The ones up top receive their salaries because they are ‘their own.’ They are all buddies. Mammadov says that this is his own private organization, and that he can do whatever he wants. Anyone who doesn’t like it can leave. But where should employees go in such a situation? We kindly ask you to report on this issue.”
Employees of Khazar TV say that many have not received their salaries since August.
“Money owed is withheld for a number of different reasons. Despite it being already mid – November, most people have not been paid for October or even September or later.
Employees of Lider TV and Space TV face a similar situation.
Lider TV:
“Employees are continuously promise their salary, but these promises are never fulfilled. Everyone is waiting to be paid. Only the high – up staff is paid, and that’s it.
Space TV:
“3 month salary delays have become a regular affair.”
As a result of such delays, many TV employees do find the courage to leave. Some equate money – flow issues with the number of companies who have scaled back on their advertising initiatives.
Meydan TV contacted the TV channels of the employees of the joint letter for a statement.
Space and ARB Sheki both stated that the employees’ words were false, and that all salaries are paid in a timely fashion.
Chief accountant of “ARB Sheki” Shahmar Ahmadov says that it has been more than 3 years that he has been working for the TV channel and has never encountered a salary delay issue.
“I don’t know who passed on this information, but it is false. All employees are paid on time.”
Lider TV responded that they were not at liberty to disclose payment information for their employees, and that senior management could be reached at another time.
Subsequent calls remained unanswered.
Khazar TV responded that they were unsure as to who was best fit to answer the question.
“Let us think about it and call you back in an hour.”
Subsequent calls were ignored or hung up on.
