NEW MINIMUM WAGE: SACFEA Urges MWUN To Shutdown Operations Of Erring Shipping Companies

 

 

By Roland Ekama 

 

Chairman of Shipping Agencies Employers Association (SACFEA) Mrs. Boma Alabi (SAN), has called on the Maritime Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MWUN) to pickett erring shipping line agencies that flout the recently signed minimum wage agreement reached between employees,employers and government.

Alabi who made the plea on Sunday in Lagos during a programme put together by the Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) to X-ray the performance of the Executive Secretary in the last one year, said the new minimum wage was over 200% increments for workers.

The SACFEA boss however advised the shipping line agencies who are adamant to pay workers the agreed salaries reached to have a rethink.

She further appealed to the union to apply systematic and scientific methods to manage the situation in furtherance not to affect port operations and those that are in total compliance.

Alabi said:” We understand how crucial our human capital is. We cannot force those who cannot meet the minimum standard to pay and as a matter of fact, majority of the companies are in compliance and for the one or two that are not, then the union knows what to do.

“There are steps that are permissive legally to stop them, you give them notice of ultimatum, you pickett them and shut them down, but don’t shut the industry down. Don’t punish  those who are compliance  with those who are not “,Alabi pleaded.

While urging the union to shutdown operations of the stubborn shipping companies who are refusing to pay the agreed salaries, she maintained that port operations must not be affected in anyway because of some bad eggs among them.

She affirmed that the tripartite arrangement was binding legally to the parties involved and it is expected that employers comply to the minimum wage agreement.

She said SACFEA is 100% committed to pay the agreed salaries for workers pointing out that employers cannot perform with employees.

She said the recalcitrant company left Shipping Association of Nigeria SAN, adding that majority of employers complied to the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) reached by parties involved.

Responding, Executive Secretary CEO Nigerian Shippers Council Barrister Pius Akutah said a monitoring and enforcement committee will be set up to address the issue of minimum wage standards.

He said the committee will comprise, MWUN, SACFEA and NSC,saying that the council mandate is to ensure industrial peace in port operations

On his part, President General of MWUN, Comrade Adewale Adeyanju stated that the union is committed to industry peace but the workers welfare is of major concern to the union.

Adeyanju commended the leaders of SACFEA and management of the council for the collaboration with the new minimum wage agreement reached by the parties involved.

Recall that Hull Blyth has refusal to pay workers the new minimum wage, which the maritime Unions have threatened to shutdown operations.