Enamelware workers fault govt policy on steel industry

WORKERS under the aegis of Enamelware Workers Association (EWAN) of Nigeria, have faulted government’s review of common external tariffs on cold rolled steel sheets, after they posited that the policy have adverse effects on the future of workers.

According to the workers in a statement signed by o Kelechi Adam, the workers’ alleged that, since last year, when import duty on cold rolled steel coils suddenly jumped to 35%, the entire Enamelware industry in the country has been under severe difficulty and consequently cannot survive with more than 50% workers retrenched.

“We are pleading with the government to restore the 5% import duty on our basic raw materials-cold rolled steel coils to avoid the inevitable and looming danger of close down of all the factories and consequent mass sack of workers.”

The workers added that, “while the cold rolled steel coil, full Hard, is for roofing sheet industry, the Annealed type is for enamelware. Annealed quality for enamelware need to be processed by highly technical and sophisticated annealing equipment. Currently this type of high quality annealed CRSS is not produced in Nigeria.

“We are therefore calling on the Federal Government to review downward the tariff to 5%. This, when done will save the jobs of over 300,000 Nigerians currently earning their living from the enamelware industry, and protect the existing industry from total collapse and mass retrenchment of workers. Please save our job and the future of our children,” the workers added.