Investigative report uncovers ‘slave factories’ where Nigerians are overworked and under-payed by illegal Asian immigrants
- The report shows that Nigerian workers in these factories are usually overworked for more than 12 hours daily, without compensation for the extra hours, in blatant disregard of national labor laws
- A worker in one of such factory disclosed that the Asian taskmasters never employ Nigerians as permanent staff, but ‘casualise’ them as a routine exercise to keep the factories running
- According to the investigation, most of these factories have their head offices located at Agbara and Sango-Ota in Ogun State; Ogba, Oregun and Oba Akran axis of Ikeja, Lagos
Over 500 illegal Asian immigrants, who entered Nigeria under the guise of being visitors, are now reportedly calling the shots at various factories in Lagos and Ogun states, News Rangers reports.
The illegal immigrants reportedly join their relatives who are legal residents in Nigeria; and stay put, because of the weak immigration policies here.
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According to the report, the relatives of these individuals who are here legally, place their people as ‘senior hands’ in the factories, at the detriment of more qualified Nigerians.
However, in these same companies, Nigerians are forced to work for over 12 hours on a daily basis, which is a blatant disregard of labor laws.
An average worker in such factories usually earns 18,000 naira per month, which may not even be paid when due.
One such Nigerian worker called Ronke (not real name) who works at a plastic company in Agbara, Ogun state called Avanti, stated: ”Our law does not allow for more than eight hours, unless for overtime purposes for which monetary compensation must be made.
“But here, we are made to work for an average of twelve hours daily without compensation for the extra hours.”
The Chinese, Koreans and Indians who run such companies seem to be operating this way deliberately because they are aware that the Nigerian workers usually do not possess the means to seek redress even if something goes wrong at the workplace.
Another worker who spoke under the condition of anonymity stated: “What the Chinese/ Indian task masters do is never to have any permanent staff as everyone is 'casualised' as a routine exercise to keep the factories running.
“They pay their illegal immigrant brothers/sisters, who are nothing short of economic pests, far higher wages.
“Besides, any disgruntled individual, who dares challenge their deliberate slavish policies are humiliated out of the company with the threat of inviting police to deal with them on trumped-up charges of theft or threat to life.”
Upon investigation however, it was discovered that the illegal immigrants usually avoid coming in contact with law enforcement officers because of their illegal status.
A senior officer at the State Criminal Investigations Department, Yaba, Lagos, reportedly stated: “Of course, even legal immigrants avoid contact with police in order to protect undocumented family members or friends.”
The investigation also revealed that most of these factories have their head offices located at Agbara and Sango-Ota in Ogun state; Ogba, Oregun and Oba Akran axis of Ikeja, Lagos.
Reacting to the situation, Olaseni Ajayi, an activist and lawyer, urged the police and immigration services “to prioritize petty offences that can bring immigrants into contact with law enforcement and to use their discretion to arrest those who drive without a license since such stops can now be a pathway to deportation”.
In the same vein, Mr. Dandy Eze of Paths to Freedom, said: “The Nigeria Labour Congress should henceforth picket the companies involved and see to their effective prosecution where necessary."
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Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that a Nigerian Emeka Umoh, who worked at a Chinese company, the Hongxing steel company limited, died after being bathed in liquefied iron while he was on duty.
Umoh reportedly died after he was taken to the Lagos University Teaching Hospital for treatment.
Watch this Legit.ng TV video of a 60-year-old LAWMA worker lamenting over unpaid salaries
Source: Legit.ng
