By Wale Odunsi Inner Galaxy Steel Company Limited has refuted the allegations of running a “modern day slave camp” in its facility a...
By Wale Odunsi
Inner Galaxy Steel Company Limited has refuted the
allegations of running a “modern day slave camp” in its facility at Umuahala,
Obuzor Asa in Ukwa West LGA, Abia State.
Last week, the Chinese firm faced criticisms over alleged
unfair labour practices and unhealthy environment made public by a Twitter
user.
The thread, comments and media reports got the attention of
the federal and state governments.
On August 13, Federal Competition and Consumer Protection
Commission (FCCPC) operatives visited the location for an on-the-spot
assessment.
The agency, in an update sent to DAILY POST, said a fuller
investigation is ongoing.
Similarly, the Abia State government has set up a committee
on the matter.
In a statement on Tuesday by Nnamdi Nwokocha-Ahaaiwe, chief
counsel to Inner Galaxy, the company described the allegations as “a deliberate
fabrication, mischaracterisation and misinformation”.
On alleged imprisonment of workers, Nwokocha-Ahaaiwe noted
that there had been no such instance.
He said: “With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic worldwide,
individuals and companies were confronted with a situation of unprecedented
crises. Our clients had to determine what to do in respect of about forty
percent (40%) of their workforce who live and come to work from Obigbo and
environs in Rivers State, which is about ten minutes’ drive from the company’s
premises.
“This was because the Rivers State Government had announced
that it was going to completely lock its borders with neighbouring States, of
which Abia State is one. This meant that those employees of our clients who
live and come to work from Obigbo and environs will be unable to come to work
for a period which it was difficult to determine as no one knew when the
pandemic would be over.
“Most States, including Abia, announced lockdowns and
curfews such that even intra-state movement became cumbersome. It became clear
that for a long period, our clients will be unable to operate at full capacity,
rendering many workers redundant. This is because the main input of production
of our clients is scrap iron and the suppliers send trucks/trailers of the
materials from all corners of the federation, ranging from Sokoto, Maiduguri,
Lagos, etc.
“The environment and
conditions prevalent in big factories and plants such as those operated by our
clients are such that if very strict safety protocols are not implemented, it
takes only for one employee to bring the Covid-19 virus to the plant from home,
and it will quickly spread among workers in the factory/plant until it becomes
uncontrollable.
“In one company in Sagamu, Ogun State (widely reported),
about 107 employees contracted the Covid-19 virus within a 48-hour period and
the factory was shut down by the authorities. To ensure that there was no
spread of coronavirus, Inner Galaxy immediately instituted very strict Covid-19
protocols, providing one mask every day for each worker and making provisions
for over 55 hand-washing/sanitizing stations all over the premises.
“The problem was that there was no way of guaranteeing that
when the workers return to their homes, they would keep to the same safety
measures implemented within the factory complex. The management called a
meeting of all the workers and made an offer: those who agree to stay within
the company premises until the restrictions in movement are relaxed will be
housed in temporarily, hastily erected accommodation.”
Nwokocha-Ahaaiwe said workers who could not stay, either
because of their families or for other reasons, were furloughed and would be
reabsorbed when things return to normal.
The counsel disclosed that the remaining were fed twice
daily, paid full salaries and bonuses, while those who left to join loved ones
got monthly allowances of N15,000 pending when they would choose to resume.
Nwokocha-Ahaaiwe added that Inner Galaxy was a responsible
corporate citizen committed to improved staff welfare and friendly relations
with the host community.
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