Cherish Ogenyi, the unit chairman and coordinator of the northern region of the National Union of Shop and Distributive Employees (NUSDE), an affiliate of the Nigerian Labour Congress, who spoke with PREMIUM TIMES described the action as “picketing”.
Cherish Ogenyi, the unit chairman and coordinator of the northern region of the National Union of Shop and Distributive Employees (NUSDE).
“What you see happening here today is just a picketing type of strike, that is what the workers came here to do. Just to picket the entrance of Shoprite. Apparently, in a bid to stop them from trading until our pending proposals and demands are met by the management,” he said.
Following the acquisition of Shoprite Nigeria by way of a few Nigerian investors, Mr Ogenyi stated the workers are speculated to be paid off and now not transferred to the brand new proprietors without their consent.
He said, “We held a similar strike on March 2, to which they rushed to the Ministry of Labour to resort a criticism to them, the Ministry of Labour known as us and an MOU was reached and agreed upon.”
Mr Ogenyi explained that one of the contents stipulated inside the MoU with the Ministry of Labour in Lagos State became that Shoprite ought to now not quit on or earlier than April 1, till all of the parties come together to barter the pending settlement they'd.
He stated; “It changed into mentioned on the inspiration that they are presupposed to pay us off as workers, but we understand that gratuity is not obtainable below the Nigerian Labour Act. It has been expunged in 2004 Act as amended and is being changed with pension act.
Under the equal Labour Act, he said, “we have redundancy and when an entity is offered, the employee role below the vintage employer will become redundant.”
Also, the NUSDE reliable said that in addition they took cognisance of some of the clauses within the Nigerian Labour Act, especially sections 10 (I) & (II) which nation that employees must not be transferred to some other employer without first searching for the consent of such an employee.
Mr Ogenyi delivered that subsection (II) said after such consent has been granted, it is the obligation of an accredited labour officer to propose the consent.
“The employer informed us that the people who offered them, sold the people. To us it's far an insult due to the fact to us it's far natural human trafficking and we can now not accept it,” he said.
He stated they had been going to Lagos to barter with the Shoprite control, however that they informed them that they cannot pay redundancy to every worker because they’re not asking everyone to go, and that any employee who isn't always comfortable with them being transferred mechanically with out in search of their consent ought to resign.
Mr Ogenyi stated they had been advised that because in the event that they need to repay their experienced people, the commercial enterprise would fall apart below the new people, but that they (NUSDE) requested them to terminate their current contract, then permit interested people to sign some other MoU with the new organisation.
“That way, whoever is snug with the brand new company must stay, folks who are not should be allowed to move,” he said.
Another employee, Gideon Akasin, who become seen seated on a table located via the entrance of the shopping center, carrying a placard with the inscription ” Save our souls, pay us our terminal blessings,” said the undertaking they're having is that the enterprise has been bought off, and that they have got refused to pay them off.
“We had been seeking to negotiate with them, however they seem to be elaborate with our contributors. They keep tossing them around by using asking them to return these days, the next day and the next, we’re bored with such hints,” the employee said.
Mr Akasin, who has been running with Shoprite for over 5 years said: “We are worrying for repay, pay us off, let us cross, then if they’re inclined to re-have interaction us, they must name us lower back to signal every other settlement with the new proprietors.”
Tina Ehikhuemen, any other employee who spoke with this newspaper, explained that the control of Shoprite has now not been honest to them as staff of the organization.
“If you’re operating in a place and also you’re dealt with fairly, you’ll be happy. But those humans, they’re now not treating us first-rate, they’re most effective treating us like slaves,” she stated.
Ms Ehikhuemen said, “They’re enslaving us, particularly the management, they’re now not treating us properly, you can’t promote your business enterprise and sell your workforce along with it, who does that?
Customers react
Some clients who came for purchasing however could not advantage front into the mall shared their mind.
Emmanuel Yusuf said he felt disenchanted with what happened, but that he's in full assist of what the employees are doing after looking at the reasons why the protest is being staged.
“People can’t come to our u . S ., make investments, and we come up with all you need and then you definately have Nigerian staff that aren't dealt with very well, that’s horrific,” he stated.
Also, Bayani Yukana, stated he got here with the hope to buy stuff he may want to use to have fun Easter, however that he was dissatisfied.
“The personnel are stressful for his or her rights, and because they’re into enterprise they recognize what is proper for them and the opposite new employer taken over,” Mr Yukana stated.
However, the management, in a memo issued by way of its Divisional Human Resources Manager, Adeola Kagho, said the people may be brushed off have to they fail to return to work.
“Please notice that your behavior is in breach of your contract of employment, business enterprise policies and methods and the applicable federal regulation.
“The organization is not organized to tolerate your participation in any illegal commercial movement.
“The business enterprise is now considering suitable movement to be taken against you and this will consist of your summary dismissal, must you push aside the training/ultimatum hereunder.
“You are for that reason advised to return to work at once in an orderly and diligent manner,” Mrs Kagho said.
She advised the employees to observe the ‘set up employer’s inner method,’ must they want to raise any criticism.
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