The Oyo State Government has reiterated its commitment to the welfare of workers in line with its industry friendly policies in the state.
Adebisi Adeniyi, commissioner for Investment, Trade, Cooperatives and Industry, made this known during a sensitization visit to the Nigerian Breweries and the Nigerian Bottling Company (Coca-Cola).
According to him, the sensitization visit is a routine exercise of the Industrial Crisis Management Committee established by Seyi Makinde, governor of Oyo State, to ensure workers’ welfare.
The commissioner, who was represented by Majeedat Olanrewaju, director of industry, who led a delegation of the committee to both organisations, explained that Governor Makinde has charged the committee to ensure a good rapport between employers and their staff in companies operating in the state.
“This committee is interested in ensuring that many of the disparities in welfare conditions of permanent and contract workers are bridged in order to ensure a worker-friendly and productive working environment in the state,” the commissioner said.
While addressing the management team and the leaders of the labour unions at both organisations, the commissioner identified welfare, safety concerns and maintenance of peace as the core interests of the committee.
He charged the management team at NBC to expand the restaurant facility to ensure a healthier and hygienic dining environment.
During a facility tour at the Nigerian Breweries, Seun Akinwale, brewery manager, as well as Danjuma John-Ekele, corporate affairs manager, West & Midwest, stated that the company consider safety and welfare of workers as the biggest subject while ensuring adequate remuneration, welfare packages to both permanent and outsourced workforce.
Festus Olubiyo and Lanbe Lukman, union chairmen at Nigerian Breweries and NBC, applauded the smooth working relationship between their members and the organisations.
Highlights of the visit include the inspection of the restaurants, changing rooms, some production lines and some restrooms sections of the business environment.
In their separate responses, Ifeoma Okoye, corporate affairs manager, and Andrew Barnabas, plant manager at NBC, expressed NBC’s readiness to work with and comply with government policies to enhance trade and workers’ welfare.
