MWUN seeks improved welfare, salaries for shipping sector personnel
The President General of the Maritime Workers union of Nigeria (MWUN), Prince Adewale Adeyanju, has called for an upward review of the retirement benefits of workers in the shipping sector of the industry.
Adeyanju who made this call on Wednesday at the Quadrennial Delegates Conference of the Shipping, Clearing and Forwarding Agencies Brach of the MWUN, which held in Lagos, also sought improved welfare of the personnel concerned.
He said: “I want to quickly use this medium to call on members of the Shipping Association of Nigeria (SAN) to urgently institute the process for upward review of the very poor retirement benefits of shipping companies’ personnel and their condition of service which is virtually non-existent.”
He warned members of the Shipping Association of Nigeria (SAN) that the Union would not hesitate to take action against it with regards to the issue on ground, after the Union concludes elections.
According to the PG, there are proven records that the workers in the shipping sector have for years been underpaid, in spite of the volume of work they are engaged to do.
He described the present condition as putting the shipping sector under siege, considering the poor remuneration as well as other practices including the outsourcing of various jobs to foreigners, which otherwise would have been handled by Nigerians, thus denying them of such opportunities.
“Comrades, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, the shipping sector is under siege, I dare say this because records show that our members in the shipping sector have over the years been underpaid and overworked.
“This must be stopped now. I am therefore requesting for an overhaul of the remuneration system currently operative in the shipping sector.
“Another problem in this sector is the issue of outsourcing of jobs such as security, accounting, human resources, operations, which ordinarily can be efficiently handled by Nigerians but are contracted out this, throwing very qualified Nigerians into the labour market to their detriment and growing the unemployment market, “ Adeyanju said.
For the election, Comrade Ekpenyong Etim Ekpenyong was returned unopposed as President of the Shipping, Clearing and Forwarding Agencies Workers Branch of the MWUN.
Speaking, the re-elected president praised his administration for a remarkable performance in spite of the harsh economic conditions and the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, with its attendant effect on the costs of doing business in the industry.
Ekpenyong said his administration’s efforts were noteworthy in the review of the workers’ service through the Collective Bargaining Agreement negotiations, notwithstanding the discouraging attitudes of some employees.
The president also disclosed that efforts of the administration made it possible to drastic reduction in the number of casual/contract workers, improved redundancy package as guide in the industry and the introduction of education allowance.
