The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Kaduna State Council, has condemned the state’s sacked Arewa textiles Limited workers’ continued non-payment of entitlements.
The solidarity protest was part of activities commemorating the 2022 International Decent Work Day, which was held in Kaduna on Thursday and Friday.
“We are here this morning at the gate of Arewa Textiles Limited, to commemorate the International ‘Decent Work Day,’ and we chose to do one of what labour laws provided, that is picketing,” said Comrade Ayuba Magaji Suleiman, NLC Chairman, Kaduna State Council.
He bemoaned the fact that they were still on the premises of the company (Arewa Textiles) despite the fact that it had been closed for over 20 years, claiming that members of the Nigerian union of textiles, garment and tailoring workers have issues on behalf of former Arewa textiles limited workers and have a lingering issue of entitlement settlement since the company’s closure in 2002.
He explained that there is a liability, terminal benefits, and entitlements of the workers, emphasizing that their members, and members of the union who were not settled as the union picked up and went into litigation and had a judgment in favor of the workers.
According to him, “Out of the 640 million naira that is due for the workers’ entitlements, the court agreed to let them have access to 250 million, stressing that they are ready to take that money, but lamented that it has been almost five (5) months now that the bank that owns the factory has yet to give them access to that money so that the workers can be paid.”
Lamenting the excruciating state and pain that the situation has caused the sacked workers, he stated that 300 workers have died, while many more are incapacitated and some are living in desperation.
He pleaded with the company’s management and authorities to do the right thing and pay their entitlements, as well as those of the deceased.
The NLC leaders, affiliate unions, and representatives of sacked workers were seen carrying placards that read, among other things, “Settle Arewa workers entitlement, many workers have died,” “Re-industrialize Nigeria now, Create decent mass jobs,” and “Re-open closed factories, create million of jobs.”
