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In pursuit of a better working condition for the Nigerian workforce, a group of Nigerians under the auspices of Movement for the Emancipation of Nigerians from Fresh Colonialism is protesting the alleged marginalisation of Nigerian workforce by a Chinese-owned GIC Motors in Lagos.
Adetayo Adegbemle, convener, Movement for the Emancipation of Nigerians from Fresh Colonialism and director, at PowerUp Initiative for Electricity Rights, said the group wished to bring to the attention of the public, the sad and unfortunate subtle development in which foreign-owned companies are subjugating Nigerians to what it called a new level of slavery and colonialism going on in the country.
Speaking at a press conference in Lagos, Adegbemle said a popular news website, aledeh.com, owned by the former Channels TV reporter, on 18 March 2018, released an investigative report on the activities of one Diana Chen, of GIC Motors, which alleged that Chen has been severely maltreating the Nigerian workforce under her employ.
The movement further stated that the report among other things revealed that Nigerian staff under her employ were being treated as slaves, and were not given letters of employment, as stipulated under the Nigerian labour laws.
Adegbemle decriying the silence of the Nigerian government, especially the Ministry of Labour and Employment, said: “This also reminds one of all the terrible stories of African slavery: how our leaders sold us all into slavery in the pre-colonial era. Are we about to experience another slavery period under the Chinese?”
The group made some demands that they said should be met by GIC Motors following the allegations. Among other things, the group has asked that all Nigerians under the employ of Diana Chen at the GIC Motors should be given a full letter of employment with full benefits, as stipulated by the Nigerian labor laws.
Other demands are that all forms of monopolies being claimed by GIC Motors, under Chen should be terminated immediately. No single Nigerian can go to China to claim such monopoly.
The group also asked for an immediate audit of all Chinese employees under GIC Motors, their visa status, and their educational background. Every position occupied by these Chinese has at least 100 capable and qualified Nigerians who can fill these vacancies. While it also demanded that all Nigerian employees under the GIC Motors should be allowed to join any labour organisation of their choice.
SEYI JOHN SALAU
