An otherwise peaceful protest by staff of a Korean firm named, Linda Manufacturing Company, makers of popular accessory, X-pression turned violent at the weekend as policemen used tear gas to disperse the protesting workers.
The Nation was reliably informed that a lady, identified simply as Aina, was hit by a tear-gas canister in the face.
The protest, which started at about 8am, was staged by the workers of the company to register their disapproval of the alleged sack of 10 workers through courier.
While the police used tear gas to disperse protesting workers from the company, a tear-gas canister hit Aina in the face, damaging the bridge of her nose.
In reaction, the workers destroyed some equipment and computer systems in the company.
Speaking with The Nation, the General Secretary, National Union of Chemical , Footwear, Leather and Non-Metallic Products Employees (NUCFRLANMPE), Comrade Douglas Adiele said the union is set to picket the firm over the sacking of their workers through courier without due consultation.
According to him, the union received information from workers that the management of the company is already sending letter of disengagement to staff, using a courier service.
He said the workers had been given targets to complete about 350 tasks in a day, which many of the workers had been unable to achieve.
According to Adiele, workers who are unable to complete the tasks are given demerits and when the demerits have reached 27 points, they are disengaged.
“We are not saying that they should not disengage their staff, but it should be done in a proper way. Due process must be follow. For the management to be sending sack letters to their staff through courier without due consultation with the staff and the union is wrong. This is not acceptable,” he said.
He said the union has been having issues with firm over what he called anti-labour policy such as unattainable target, inappropriate medical facility, among others.
“This is company we have been having issue with for a long time. We have been having problems with as regards their anti-labour policy such as unattainable target set for their staff. We have heard of shoddy treatment on their staff, among others. We want to say enough of this.
“We have also written to the appropriate quarter like the Ministry of labour and Productivity, Dr. Chris Ngige.”
One of the staff of the company, Mr Vincent Victor also alleged that the company usually sacked or seized their salaries whenever they were absent from work.
He said the management started with a target of 160 in 2015, which kept on increasing until it reached 350.
When contacted, the Human Resources Manager of the company, Ms. Lara Folajimi, said she could not comment on the issue.