The trio of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), Oyo state chapters have warned employers against stoppage and reduction of workers’ salaries by using the COVID-19 pandemic as an excuse.
The labour leaders’ warning came on the heel of the 2020 International Workers’ Day which is observed this Friday, globally.
While addressing newsmen at the Labour House, Agodi in Ibadan, The Oyo state NLC chairman, comrade Bayo Sodo, cautioned private companies against any bid to slash workers’ salaries on the excuse of the economic crisis occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Also speaking, the Oyo state TUC chairman, Comrade Emmanuel Ogundiran, asked companies to ensure that workers, especially contract labour, who take leave as a precaution towards the coronavirus pandemic are treated to be on duty and their salaries should not be deducted.
In the backdrop of COVID-19 challenging situation, the TUC chairman appealed to all the employers of public and private establishments to extend their coordination by not terminating their employees, particularly casual or contractual workers from job or reduced their wages.
On his part, the Secretary, Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Oyo state chapter, Comrade Olusegun Abatan, urged all affiliate unions and state branches to resist any deduction in salary.
The Labour leaders, however, advised the Oyo state government to intensify testing, contact tracing, public fumigation and robust public health education to fight the dreaded Coronavirus.