More than 600 workers of Hitech Construction Company on Wednesday protested alleged salary cuts and intimidation at Section 3B of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal highway project in Cross River state.
The workers began the protest on Monday, October 26, at the
company’s construction yard in Awi, Akamkpa LGA, demanding the removal of three
Lebanese expatriates and the reinstatement of Asuquo Ukpayang, the project’s
state liaison officer.
They accused the company’s management of intimidation,
arbitrary salary cuts, unfair treatment and disregard for Nigerian employees.
Esikere Peter, a quality control and laboratory worker,
alleged that management had reduced the number of paid working hours from eight
to two a day, resulting in significant salary losses.
He also alleged that night shifts had been excluded from
workers’ records, despite employees working until 11pm without receiving
payment for those hours.
Peter accused Boutrous, the project manager, of arbitrary
dismissals, intimidation and penalising workers who requested materials to
carry out their duties.
“We are demanding the removal of the project manager, the
site manager, Mr Tony, and earth-moving supervisor, Mr Shabel, who have
continuously treated workers unfairly,” he said.
“We the workers are not protesting to destroy property or
cause violence. We just want Nigerian workers to be treated fairly and with
dignity.”
Stephen Oke, a trailer driver, also accused the expatriates
of intimidating and mistreating Nigerian workers.
“Nigerian labourers do all the work in harsh conditions, yet
we are cheated, shortchanged and underpaid,” Oke said.
Ana Matthew, an earth-moving and level-checking worker, said
employees worked under harsh weather conditions without adequate shelter.
Matthew also alleged that management had deployed military
personnel to intimidate workers and reduced their wages despite their working
both day and night shifts.
The worker further alleged that scrap materials previously
shared among employees were being sold without their consent.
Some female workers also complained about their treatment,
alleging that there were no separate restrooms for women, while expatriates had
access to multiple restrooms.
The protesters further alleged that the expatriates had
refused to work with Ukpayang and instead imposed a community liaison officer
they could control.
Reacting to the protest, Ukpayang expressed solidarity with
the workers and confirmed complaints about salary deductions and unpaid
entitlements.
He said Eyoanwan Otu, wife of the Cross River governor, had
earlier raised concerns about workers’ welfare with Hitech management and urged
the company to ensure fair treatment.
Ukpayang promised to engage Hitech’s senior management, the
federal controller of works and the minister of works to facilitate
negotiations.
He also urged the workers to remain peaceful and nominate
representatives for dialogue.
As of Wednesday, work at the construction yard remained
grounded, with the workers vowing to sustain the protest until their demands
were met.
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