How alleged rights violations in Chinese firm stirred outrage

Allegations of enslavement and sexual molestation of Nigerians against a Chinese firm, Inner Galaxy Steel Company Limited Abia State, by an anonymous Twitter user stirred social media outrage leading to several governmental fact-finding missions to the firm. But the company’s lawyer, Nnamdi Ahaaiwe Esq, explained that it has one of the best conditions of work […]

Allegations of enslavement and sexual molestation of Nigerians against a Chinese firm, Inner Galaxy Steel Company Limited Abia State, by an anonymous Twitter user stirred social media outrage leading to several governmental fact-finding missions to the firm.

But the company’s lawyer, Nnamdi Ahaaiwe Esq, explained that it has one of the best conditions of work in Nigeria and debunked a social media allegation of maltreatment of its workers.

The social media outrage prompted the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) to visit the steel company located at Umuahala, Obuzor Asa, Ukwa West LGA, Abia State on a regulatory activity, especially as it concerned alleged unfair treatment of Nigerian employees.

The Director General of the commission, Babatunde Irukera, had said that on August 12, 2020, that the commission became aware of the reports and on August 13, its operatives from the South-East and South-South zonal offices conducted an investigatory stop at the company’s location in Obehie, Abia State and found that employees were housed on work premises in less than ideal boarding conditions.

“Some employees felt restrained on-site and unable to leave, even though going home has been their preference. A workplace injury previously occurred and led to amputation with respect to an employee. Employees were required to work non-stop shifts of 11 hours with inadequate breaks,” Irukera said.

The commission said it secured an express and urgent commitment from the company to immediately take steps to improve the living conditions of on-site employees including immediately purchasing foams/mattresses for their bunk beds, and cooling fans, modify required working hours from 11 to eight hours daily and discontinue mandatory quarantine on-site for employees who desire to depart the facility.

The Abia State Government through the Commissioner for Information, John Okiyi Kalu said its fact-finding team has already obtained commitment to relocate the staff who are in makeshift accommodation due to the COVID-19 to better facilities.

Reacting, Ahaaiwe said the viral story was the handiwork of the “company’s competitors/enemies who connived with some disgruntled workers, sacked for stealing and diversion of goods and a rogue, faceless, nameless investigative journalist to carry out this hatchet job.”

Explaining the work condition on the site, Ahaaiwe said “The basic salary of the least paid worker in the company, when added to their bonuses, is above the monthly National Minimum wage which many state governments, public and private companies have been unable to pay. Again, this is easily verifiable and does not need much digging to arrive at the veracity or falsity of this claim.”He added the “company provides two free meal tickets per day, sports, cultural, tourism and recreation activities including picnics are regularly arranged; birthdays of employees are celebrated with management providing cards and cakes; workers with outstanding performances are rewarded on a monthly basis with cash prices; all public holidays declared by the federal government are complied with and each worker gets the equivalent of two days pay.”

Apart from providing PPEs, insurance and supplementary meals for staff and their families, he said  the company also provides education and training opportunities for employees.

On the injury sustained by a staff of the company, he said a cart operator, one Ugochukwu Godwin, in the company accidentally smashed the leg of one Elohor Edehor Eshke, who mistakenly put his foot on a rail track, while having a nap on March 30, 2017.

He said the company offset his medical bill of N1 million at Save A Mission Hospital in Port Harcourt and is currently awaiting a court determination of the appropriate compensation for him after the firm’s offer was rejected.

He also said that the company had almost completed the staff housing projects in the compound of the facility, to accommodate most of the staff due to the COVID-19 pandemic and was moving staff in makeshift containers to the permanent structures.