NLC laments non-payment of textile workers, 20 years after closure in Kaduna

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NLC laments non-payment of textile workers, 20 years after closure in Kaduna

The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Kaduna State council, has condemned the continuous non-payment of entitlements of sacked Arewa textiles Limited workers in the state.

The solidarity protest was part of activities to commemorate the 2022 International Decent Work Day celebration held on Thursday and Friday in Kaduna.

Comrade Ayuba Magaji Suleiman, the NLC Chairman, Kaduna State council, while speaking said, “we are here this morning at the gate of Arewa Textiles limited, to commemorate the International ‘Decent work Day’ and we choose to do one of what labour laws provided, that is picketting.”

He lamented that they were at the premises of the company (Arewa Textiles) despite the fact that it has been closed down for over 20 years, saying that members from the Nigerian union of textiles and garment and tailoring workers have issues on behalf of the formers workers of Arewa textiles limited and have a lingering issue of settlement of entitlements, since when the company was closed down in 2002.

He explained that there is a liability, terminal benefits and entitlements of the workers, stressing that their members, and members of the union that were not settled as the union picked up and went into the level of litigation and had judgment in favour of the workers.

According to him, “Out of 640 million naira that is due for the entitlements of the workers, the court agreed to let them have access of 250 million, stressing that they are ready to take that money, but lamented that up till now, it has been almost five (5) months now the bank that possess the factory is yet to give them access to that money so that the workers will be given their entitlements.

Lamenting the excruciating state and pain the situation has caused the sacked workers, he said that a good number of 300 workers have lost their lives, while a good number are incapacitated and some are living in desperation.

He appealed to the company’s management and authorities to do the needful and give them their entitlements and even the families of the ones that are deceased.

The NLC leaders, affiliate unions and representatives of sacked workers were seen carrying placards with several inscriptions such as, “Settle Arewa workers entitlement, many workers have died”, ”Re- industrialize Nigeria now, Create decent mass jobs”, “Re- open closed factories, create million of jobs”, among others