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The establishment of two ceramics firms, namely West African Ceramics Limited and BN Ceramics Industry Nigeria Limited, to create jobs for the unemployed people was the best thing that happened at Ajaokuta, a town in Kogi State. But sooner than expected, many of the workers started complaining of alledged dehumanisation and exploitation.
West African Ceramics Limited, Ajaokuta, established in Nigeria since 1995 under the name Royal Ceramics, located in Suleja, Niger State, is a leading brand name in the Nigerian ceramics market and Sub-Saharan West African region due to growing demand for European standard quality tiles. Its competitor, BN Ceramics Industry Nigeria Limited, is also carving a niche for itself in the same area.
However, cross section of workers who spoke to Daily Trust alleged that the two firms, operated by Indian and Chinese expatriates, are not complying with the extant labour laws of Nigeria.
It should be noted that the relationship between employers and employees (industrial relations) is structured, mediated and regulated by general and specific laws as enshrined in relevant public policies of international labour standards, coded in conventions and recommendations, as well as national legislations with a view at ensuring that in the course of employment, people work in dignity and humane conditions.
There are pointers that employees in these firms are not getting a fair deal from their job places.
In West African Ceramics Limited and BN Ceramics Industries Nigeria Limited, workers who spoke to Daily Trust at their factories near the Niger (Murtala) Bridge in Ajaokuta, some 10 kilometres from Itobe town, on condition of anonymity for fear of intimidation and likely sack, alleged that there have been cases of noncompliance with labour law on employment, remuneration and the adoption of unethical measures in punishing employees.
There are also concerns over alleged disregard for the rights of workers to rest and leisure. The workers claim they are underpaid, and made to work during weekends and holidays with no commensurate appreciation.
Workers, especially at the West African Ceramics, express their displeasure over prolonged working hours and casualisation of workers and working without appointment letters. A similar situation was alleged by employees of BN Ceramics Limited.
Workers in West African Ceramics described how majority of the staff earn only between N18,100 and N20,100 while those in BN Ceramics earn between N18,000 to N30,000, a remuneration they say is not commensurate to the workloads of workers at the factories who work from 7:00am-7:00pm.
Workers of the two companies alleged disregard for industrial legislations which seek to protect workers from work-related hazards and diseases and refusal of the companies to pay compensations for injuries or disabilities suffered in the course of work, citing how some workers, especially at the West African Ceramics, suffered injuries and died in the cause of their jobs without compensation.
Some workers in BN Ceramics voiced their displeasure over alleged racist dispositions being exhibited by some of the expatriates of the companies. Alleging an instance of high handedness and molestation of workers by Chinese expatriates which, sometimes ago, culminated into the shooting of one Oloye Elega, a cleaner in the company, under a controversial circumstance. They also frowned at the company’s policy of employing women for night shifts and the attendant abuse they are bound to suffer by virtue of their night work.
The concerned workers appealed to the government to intervene by prevailing on the two companies to stop all forms of anti-workers’ activities and improve on the welfare and wellbeing of workers.
But in a reaction, the Human Resource/Administration Manager and Spokesman of BN Ceramics, Malam Saliu Mohammed, said that the working condition provided by the firm is the best the firm could offer. He said that the firm pays daily wages to employees of N600 – N1,000 for work done from 7:00am to 7:00pm and a bonus of N10,000 if an employ makes a 28 working days in a month through weekends and holidays or N13,000 for 30 working days work. He said that work officially closes by 5:00pm everyday while the overtime period is between 5:00pm and 7:00pm. The sum of N120, he said, is paid for the two extra hours of work while work during public holidays attract twice that amount.
Salihu debunked allegations of high handedness and molestations of workers levied against expatriates in the company. He, however, said that language barrier between the expatriates (Chinese) and Nigerians working in the company often make some of the expatriates to raise their voices whenever they issue instructions to workers.
On the alleged shooting of a company worker, Oloye Elega, by an expatriate in the company, Salihu said that the incident occurred, adding that it was not intentional. According to him the concerned expatriate staff footed the medical bills of the injured staff and he was arrested by the security agencies who seized his passport.
But when we contacted the Oloye on the matter, he complained of being abandoned by the company, saying that he was not compensated by the company.
On their part, in an interview with Daily Trust in Abuja, the management of West African Ceramics, represented by the human resource manager, Alhaji Abdulraheem Bello, and three others, namely, Alhaji Adama Samari (labour contractor), Alhaji Mohammed Ndanusa (administrative director) and a trustee of the National Union of Chemicals, Footwear, Rubber, Leather, and Non-Metallic Product Employees (NUCFLANMPE), Comrade Isiaku Musa, denied most of the workers’ claims, insisting that the company complies with the relevant laws regulating industrial relations in Nigeria. “The company places premium on the wellbeing of its workers which it demonstrated in workers remuneration of a sum above the national minimum wage, ranging between N20,000 and above, depending on the categorisation the worker falls under” Bello said.
He said that workers are entitled to one day off, per week, sick, casual and annual leaves.
On the issue of overtime, Bello said that workers in West African Ceramics are not forced to embark on overtime work, as alleged. He added that the official working ours last between 7:00am and 4:00pm, with a one hour break interval, while workers are at liberty to do overtime which lasts between 4:00pm and 7:00pm
Commenting on the complaints over prolonged casualisation of workers without conversion and promotion, Bello said: “The confirmation of a staff on probation is legally six months, subject to performance, there are some that have spent about two years on probation.”
He said that the management will address the issue of appointment letters for its workers.
On the case of industrial safety, he said that the company has an industrial clinic to handle emergency cases and three other designated hospitals where sick staff are usually referred to for treatment, if need be.
The negligence of employees in using protective wares is responsible for cases of accidents that led to the death of a staff and loss of body parts of some other workers for which the company spent over N4 million for treatment and compensation, he said. Though, the workers refuted this claim.
Credit: Itodo Daniel Sule/ Daily Trust
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