BY VICTOR AHIUMA-YOUNG & IFUNAYA OKAFOR

LAGOS — NO fewer than 200 workers of Europeans Soaps and Detergents Limited, for a third day running, have been protesting the alleged termination of their employment without  due process and non-payment of their benefits.

The aggrieved workers, who have been protesting at the LSDPC Industrial Estate, Amuwo-Odofin, Mile 2, premises of the company since Tuesday, also accused the management of not remitting their pension and tax deductions to the appropriate quarters.

While they insisted that the owners of the company had right to disengage workers, they argued that this must be done through due process and must pay workers their entitlements, wondering why the management should use the word ‘termination’ and not retrenchment.

According to the workers, “we are not going to end this protest until the right things are done. We are calling on Governor Babatunde Fashola and leaders of the state House of Assembly to prevail on the management to pay us our entitlements and re-write the termination letter to read retrenchment.”

Efforts to speak with a representative of the management staff of the company proved abortive.
However, a notice on the gate of the company, titled “Notice to all staff on restructuring” read in part:
“We, therefore, inform you that with effect from Monday, May 19, 2014, the factory shall be closed down until further notice.

“There will be downsizing of staff which will leave only 35 staff to perform skeletal services. 197 members of staff will be affected by the downsizing with their appointments duly terminated with immediate effect.

“Letters of termination of employment will be delivered to the affected staff and their entitlements will be negotiated and paid in accordance with agreements we will reach with representatives of those affected.

“Members of staff whose appointment are terminated will be given an opportunity to re-apply for re-appointment whenever the major restructuring is completed and the company resumes full operation.”