Sack Of 30 Members By Heritage Bank PLC Violation Of Section 20 Of Labour Act – ASSBIFI

Sack Of 30 Members By Heritage Bank PLC Violation Of Section 20 Of Labour Act – ASSBIFI

LAGOS – Association Of Senior Staff Of Banks, Insurance And Finan­cial Institutions (ASSBIFI), has condemned the disengagement and refusal to settle severance benefits of its over 30 exited members by the man­agement of Heritage Bank PLC., adding that the decision is an outright violation of Section 20 of the Labour Act.

Comrade Olusoji Oluwole, President of ASSBIFI, at a press briefings in Lagos, said the management of Heritage Bank PLC, has refused any dialogue with the Union as provided by law, by insisting to have ter­minated the workers appointment based on their company policy.

Oluwole, emphasised that the union will not allow the unfair labour practices being perpetrated against hardworking and struggling Nigerians workers em­ployed in Heritage Bank PLC, especially theover30membersof ASSBIFI, including a principal national officer of the Associ­ation in May, 2023 without due process to continue without recourse to due process

He said: “ASSBIFI will deploy all its networks and contacts to mobilise affiliate trade unions and Nigerian workers to­wards protecting the rights and privileges of our members in Heritage Bank PLC., over outright violation of Section 20 of the Labour Act, Cap L1, LFN 2004, the ASSBIFI Industry Wide Collective Agreement, and the ILO Convention 158 on Termination of Employment.

“Our frustration trying to amicably set­tle the myriad of unfair labour practices that the Management of Heritage bank has continually perpetrated on vulnerable Ni­gerian workers.

“This action was condemned by ASS­BIFI as an outright violation of Section 20 of the Labour Act, Cap L1, LFN 2004, the ASSBIFI Industry Wide Collective Agree­ment, and the ILO Convention 158 on Ter­mination of Employment, which specifi­cally provided that “the employment of a worker shall not be terminated unless there is a valid reason for such termination”.

“This has been rightly recognised by the National Industrial Court (NIC), and we abide with it.

He specifically said: “As the Statutory Representative of Senior Employees in the Nigeria Financial Sector, and in line with our policy on social dialogue, ASSBIFI en­gaged the Management of Heritage Bank on several occasions to demand justice for the vulnerable Nigerian workers’ whose employments were wrongfully terminated.

“The Management insisted to have ter­minated the workers based on their compa­ny policy, without negotiation or dialogue with the Union as provided by law.

“ASSBIFI requested the Management of the Bank to supply the Company Policy and Details of the claimed payments and settlements of the severance benefits paid to the disengaged Employees.

Meanwhile, a senior staff of Heritage bank, who craves anonymity, in chats with Daily Independent, said: “The manage­ment of Heritage Bank Plc has not closed the negotiation door of dialogue, and will continue to dialogue with ASSBIFI on workers’ welfare”