A JOURNALIST who joined Regar newspaper within weeks of publication in 1992 has quit in disgust after his editor failed to remit his National Pension Fund (NPF) contributions, leaving him vulnerable of not getting any pension at all upon his retirement.
Mr John Lablache, formerly of “ Nation” newspaper, said the contributions were regularly deducted off his salary. He never received any statement the NPF issues every year to contributors, except in 2004, when he noticed the amount was ridiculously low.
He brought the matter to the attention of Regar editor Roger Mancienne, who is also General Secretary of the SNP. Mr Mancienne promised to do something about it. What he did was start remitting contributions from then on.
However nothing was done about the 10-year-period 1993-2003, when the NPF received nothing at all, though deductions were always made from Lablache's salary. The journalist thought everything was all right.
Under NPF regulations, a person must contribute 10 years continuous or a total of 20 years aggregate to benefit from a pension. Regar's action meant that Lablache was not eligible to a pension upon retirement, as he fell in neither category.
In February 2008, he got the idea to check again with the NPF. Nothing had been deposited and he talked to Regar management again, who feigned ignorance and then promised to do something about it.
The crunch came two weeks ago, when Lablache found again that his contributions were still 10 years in arrears. According to him, Mancienne did not seem to care and talked about remitting in instalments. But he had second thoughts when Lablache threatened legal action.
Altogether, this issue was discussed half a dozen times with Regar management, to no avail.
The contributions have since been remitted, with interest at the request of the NPF.
But this did not please Mancienne, who has since been hostile towards him. Said Lablache bitterly: “ I and my sons and daughter have suffered much torment because of my association with Regar and the SNP and this was the parting gift. They spend their time squabbling about money and salaries everywhere, but show no gratitude or sympathy towards others.”
Lablache also said he is aware that the same problem, albeit on a smaller scale, has befallen another Regar journalist, who is also worried. “There are 101 things which are wrong. But, this to me was the last straw that broke the camel's back” he said.
This newspaper has since learnt that in 2005, the SNP under pressure from the NPF, remitted about 15,000 in arrears including dues to one bodyguard.