Shehuyinka:
IN Nigeria, neglect of workers, poor welfare and child labour have characterised the operation of Chinese-owned companies, which is contrary to labour laws, but the authorities often overlook such atrocities. Labour experts say the Nigerian government has been lenient with Chinese companies due to its financial relations with China, writes Lukman Abolade.

In October 2020, a casual worker identified as Femi died in an accident while working with a Chinese company, Xiyuan Quarry, in the Kobape area of Ogun State.

Workers in Xiyuan Quarry who knew Femi said his death could have been avoided if the company had provided him with protective equipment.

One year after his death, Xiyuan Quarry is still in operation, and other workers in the factory are without PPEs while the government looks away.

Femi was killed by one of the trucks used in conveying sand at the quarry company on a tragic Saturday of 3rd October, 2020.

He was crushed to death on his way from the residential building of the quarry when he hit his head on a stone at the quarry.

Workers of the quarry, including the Nigeria Union of Mine Workers in the state, have described Femi’s death as an avoidable accident.

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Many blamed the sudden death of Femi on the non-availability of a helmet that would have saved him during the accident.

Failure to provide PPEs to workers in Nigeria is contrary to the National Policy on Occupational Safety and Health of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, but no one is prosecuting perpetrators.

Section 5.3 (III) of the policy states that employers are to “Provide at no cost to the worker, occupational health protection and personal protective clothing and equipment, which are appropriate for the nature of the job.”

How Chinese-owned companies violate labour laws

In January 2021, 22-year-old John Nsika joined Ding Xing Quarry as an operator on a casual work basis. Four months after, several parts of his body had various degrees of injuries after an accident while working for the company.

He had an accident while operating a popular machine in the quarry known as crusher.

Ding Xing Quarry company is located at Obafemi-Owode area of Ogun State.

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According to Nsika, in May, while he was working on one of the machines at Ding Xing, a big stone fell on him.

“I did not know how it happened; the stone just fell on my head, now I have injuries everywhere,” Nsika said.

Nsika’s leg was broken and he sustained injuries in different parts of his body. He said the company left him to pay the hospital bills despite this.

Nsika told The ICIR that his wage for the day was deducted on the day of the accident, and it took the intervention of the Nigeria Union of Mine Workers before his medical bill was paid.

No allowance or remuneration was paid to Nsika after the Chinese company agreed to pay the medical bill of Nsika at the Federal Medical Centre, Idi-Aba, in Abeokuta.

Weeks after Nsika had received treatment at the hospital, he is still writhing in pains. He is still unable to work properly as his leg is bandaged.

“I have been like this for weeks, and the company is not doing anything. In this place, you only earn when you work; if you don’t work, they won’t pay you,” he said.

The 22 year old blamed the accident and its severity on Ding Xing’s lack of protective equipment.

He told The ICIR that the injuries would have been minor if provided with safety equipment.

“They are not paying me anything. This accident would not have happened if we were provided with the personal protective equipment tools like a helmet,” he said.

Nsika and many Nigerians allegedly go through these challenges with Chinese operators who reportedly treat them as enslaved people.

The Nigerian law states that employers in the country are to “Provide compensations for work-related disabilities of workers and rehabilitation of such workers as reasonably practicable,” but these companies have failed to do so and no one is asking questions.

The ICIR learnt that many reported atrocities against Chinese-owned companies have been left unattended to by the authorities.

In Nigeria, workers at Chinese companies have made reports of exploitation, poor welfare, poor remuneration, and lack of provision of personal protective equipment.

Dada Adebanjo, a father of two, had been a casual worker with Ding Xing for more than two years until he had an accident in 2020 while on duty, which eventually led to losing one of his eyes.

Adebanjo said he spent over N300 000 on his left eye, but the company where he lost the sight looked unconcerned with his predicament.

Adebanjo told this reporter that the accident had occurred at the Chinese company. He claimed a small stone coming out of the crusher entered his eyes and he had since then been battling with it.

READ MORE HERE: https://www.icirnigeria.org/nigerian-government-watches-as-chinese-companies-violate-labour-laws-workers-rights/

Telekinetic:

Lol… Labor law in Nigeria??
As long as you’re being paid you’re a slave to any company that hires you. If you don tire go find another work ni if it’s that easy!

Telekinetic:

Lol… Labor law in Nigeria??
As long as you’re being paid you’re a slave to any company that hires you. If you don tire go find another work ni if it’s that easy!

Thanksful:


Some of you are just plain stupid.

Telekinetic:

You’d be dangerously stupid if you didn’t counter the argument rather than derogatory comments.

Thanksful:


You don't counter stupidity

Telekinetic:

Get well soon.