Huawei workers protest against alleged unfair labour practice

INDUSTRIAL crisis looms at the Chinese owed communication firm, Huawei, as workers have accused the management of engaging in unfair labour practice. Representatives of the workers, who spoke under the condition of anonymity mentioned tax deduction from salary, incomplete, inconsistent pension remittances and sudden salary reduction without any notification or explanation or justification.

The company is also accused of imposing of Huawei phones on FMEs and some outsourced staff against their wish and deducting the money from their salary without their consent.

One of the employers said the Chinese employers also taunt the employees about the high level of unemployment rate in the country and that sacking any of them will render socially irresponsible persons, as there are no jobs in the country for them. The Chinese firm was also accused of assaulting employees physically.

He added: The lack of jobs in the country has also become a tool of harassment. The Chinese bosses also issue sack constant threats of sack because there are no work in the country.

This is coupled with physical assault on employers who have no institution to report to. There are also constant violations of staffers’ fundamental human rights, which include slapping and yelling at outsourced staff among many others.”

While calling for investigation into the expatriate quota granted to the Huawei by the Federal Government, the protesting workers, said there is overbearing influence of less-qualified staff as key managerial positions are exclusively reserved for them. The workers also said the outsourced staff are denied annual leave and when such is granted, it attracts deduction from their salaries.

The source added: “There are deductions in salary for days absent from work due to illness even when proof of illness is provided in form of hospital bills and doctor’s report.

Maternity leave also attracts deduction in salary for the days on leave and absent from work.” Other alleged anti-labour practices of the Huawei include denial of payment for overtime work done, absence of career path for the outsourced staff, stagnation of carrier, no salary increment no matter number of years of service to the company, no relocation allowance when an outsourced staff is transferred from one state to another.

But the Permanent Secretary in the ministry of labour and productivity, Dr Clement Illoh, told The Guardian that the ministry is yet to receive any petition to the ill treatment of Nigerians by Huawei firm. He said: “The ministry of labour and productivity is yet to receive any petition from any of the Huawei firm employee concerning anti-labour practices.

Government will not tolerate any anti-labour practice in Nigeria by any company locally owned or foreign-owed. All companies doing business in Nigeria have the responsibility of obeying all the rules and regulation guiding employment in country and the ministry will leave no stone unturned to ensure the laws are strictly adhered to.”