On Tuesday commercial activities in Ibeto, a multi-billion naira cement company operating in Port Harcourt, the capital city of Rivers State were paralyzed following a peaceful protest by the workers of the firm, alleging non-payment of salary, arrears and other entitlement.
Hundreds of staff staged a protest, besides non payment of their salary the workers also alleged that the management of the company is in the process of retrenching them, without any form of financial settlement and fringe benefits.
The Newswriter gathered that the company is preparing to fold up due to financial, political and economic reasons, the management of Ibeto is currently facing.
Speaking to our correspondent during the protest, some staff of the company namely: Sir Ajubo Bereiwariso, Christian Agumadu and others said that the company wanted to keep them on standby which may cause the workers hardship, adding that the management has refused to pay them hazard incentives and other benefits as salary of the month of November was pending. According to them the company also reduce their salary during the payment in the month of October.
The workers further alleged that the management has been hiding under a bushel, noting that the company is not sure of renewing its operational license in the year 2016 under the new federal government policies.
“We have been working in this company since 2005. Two months ago, the management called us and said the company will divide the peanuts; they are paying us into two parts. And nobody said anything. They did it the way they like,” the workers alleged.
According to them the management has asked them to stop working and comeback to check their names on the company’s notice board, saying that anybody whose name is on the notice board eligible to work as a fresh staff.
Meanwhile one of the representatives of the staff, Mr. Simeon Akaluogbo who had a meeting with the management disclosed to our reporter that, they told the company that should pay them off or to pay them while they are on stand by.
When our correspondent contacted the Personnel Manager of the company he declared comment, saying that he is also a staff of Ibeto. ###
Bennett James
