Labour Act unfair to Nigerian workers — ASSBIFI

The Association of Senior Staff of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institution (ASSBIFI), has disclosed that the Labour Act is unfair to Nigerian workers.

Speaking with journalists in Lagos, the National President, Comrade Oyinkan Olasanoye, revealed that,  the Labour Act encouraged casualization in the banking industry but pegged it to six months and this has been a menace ravaging the industry.

The ASSBIFI boss stressed that, there is nothing wrong in outsourcing staff but they must be treated like human beings and not animals.

She added that, “this outsource staff have no stake in the organisation as their appointments are based on contract and if there is any ripple effect, the full staff will definitely bear the repercussion”.

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She affirmed that, the union believe strongly in negotiating and bargaining and not going on strike as this may lead to the collapse of the economy.

Olasanoye said, the Act also gives room for employers of labour to employ out-source staff in running the activities in the industry and this has been an ongoing issue with the National Assembly in order for them to review the Act as it is having a negative effect on the full staff in the industry.

She lamented the attitude of most media outlets in giving awards to businessmen, politicians and some un-unionized institutions with wide coverage yet lacking in industrial relations and decent work practices.

“The bourgeois in our present day society has pride itself of place in advocating the ideological values of capitalism. This is evident in some of the financial institutions which have refused to be unionized, under the cover of the 2004 labour reform act. It has considerable resources and opportunities for systematic brainwashing of the public.

“The financial magnates present themselves as benefactors rather than exploiters and the trade unions and other working class organizations as enemies of the nation rather than champions of its interest in the struggle against capitalists “ she fumed.

She reiterated that, they have created a far reaching and ramified network for offensive against the minds of the working people.

She disclosed that, the recent outburst of the association to the management of workers pension fund in NSITF is a pointer that the association  has come of age and also have an intimidating image within the shores of the nation and in diaspora.

She condemned in  strong terms harassment in work place as also call on workers not to accept what they face as act of God but speak out, in order to get justice.

“We call on labour to give us regulations that will guide the industry and also protect the outsource staff in the process of carrying out their legitimate duties” she stated.