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News: Nigerians demand closure of Chinese company maltreating workers
Some Nigerians have called for the
shutdown of Hongxing Steel Company Limited, a company in the Amuwo
Odofin area of Lagos State, where workers are exposed to hazards that
lead to deaths and injuries.
They called on government regulatory agencies to probe the company’s safety standards and sanction the owners appropriately.
PUNCH Metro had reported on
Monday about two deaths in the Chinese company, which workers said were
only a few of the many casualties recorded in the firm.
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They said apart from the meager wages paid to them, their Chinese bosses sack them at will.
A Lagos-based human rights lawyer, Femi
Falana, told PUNCH Metro on Tuesday that his chambers would be filing a
petition to the National Human Rights Commission and the Ministry of
Labour.
Falana, who demanded the closedown of
the factory till it was in the right state, said the owners were liable
for the injuries and deaths of their workers.
He said, “Under the Labour Law, as well
as the Factory Act, manufactures and owners of business premises are
required to put their environment in good condition and train their
workers.
“If for any reason there is an
industrial accident, the management of the factory is duty bound to
provide adequate medical treatment for the victim. If for any reason a
worker dies or is injured, the management has to make full reparation or
pay compensation. If the worker suffers permanent disability, the owner
of the factory is vicariously liable and has to maintain that worker
throughout his life. This is why the law requires companies to insure
their workers in case of accidents.”
The human rights lawyer said he would
ensure the attention of the government was drawn to the tragic accidents
in the firm, adding that justice would be given to families who had
lost their loved ones.
“We are filing a petition before the
NHRC and sending a formal complaint to the Ministry of Labour, which has
an inspectorate and required by law to make inspectors inspect
factories and make sure they are in good conditions.
“We also want to make example of this
company that while you make money and the government is talking of
foreign investments, no investor will be allowed to destroy our youths,”
he added.
Another lawyer, Spurgeon Ataene, urged
the government to beam searchlights on the conditions of Nigerian
workers in other foreign companies.
“People think that the slave trade has
ended, but that is what we have now in many of these foreign companies.
Because of the high level of unemployment in the country, people are so
eager to get themselves to do any kind of work and as a result, they
take a lot of harassment, intimidation and enslavement.
“Some of these foreign companies treat
our citizens as if they are second class and after working so hard, they
are paid peanuts. This is what you can never do in their country. The
government should fold up the company and take it over with immediate
effect. Their assets should be indigenised,” he said.
Meanwhile, readers of The PUNCH online have called for thorough investigations into the case.
A reader, Chris Eyen, said, “This is
very sad. Where are the labour unions? It is true that these foreign
companies have people serving as casuals for up to 10 years. Please let The PUNCH take on this matter with the government.”
Another reader, Uwadiae Odigie, said,
“The regulatory agencies and labour unions should pay a visit to all
known Chinese firms in the country. Chinese companies are notoriously
known for violating industrial rules, even in their own country.
The Chairman of the NHRC, Mr. Chidi
Odinkalu, promised to get back to our correspondent after “being fully
briefed on the facts of the case.”
