By Ibrahim Joenal Sesay
FREETOWN, July 25 (232news.com) – As a way of giving more power to local industrial labour force, Industrial Trade Group Negotiation Council at a colourful ceremony held on Friday 22nd July at the Sierra Leone Labour Congress hall signed the Wage Re-Opener Agreement 2022 which saw 10% salary increment for industrial workers.
The signing which took place in the presence of representatives of the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, the Secretary General Sierra Leone Labour Congress, spoke person of SLAM and Sierra Leone Employers Federation among others saw the transfer of leadership of the Council.
Emmanuel D. Pratt Union Spokesman said they reached agreement with local industrial owner on the 8th July which paved the way for them to sign the agreement that day.
He explained that the agreement is about workers in the industrial sector, whether that industry belong to the Trade Council or not it is incumbent on the part of every employer doing business in Sierra Leone in the manufacturing industry to comply with the agreement.
The agreement, he said took effect from the 1st April 2022, 10% salary increment for all workers in the manufacturing industry.
He added that because of the prevailing situation in the country they also increased the lunch and transport of workers from Le 220 to Le 350 both for lunch and transport effective 1st April 2022.
“It is our procedure that whenever we reach an agreement we have to sign it.”
Pratt said it is not easy to negotiate because they have a lot of research to do, considering the inflation rate, cost of leaving, the Leones against the Dollars and taxation as it is not easy for the employer. Economic hardship, taking into consideration the global crisis, the Putin crisis and mixed with our local crisis it is not easy but yet we able to reach an agreement.”
He further stated that their plans for defaulters is that they will continue to monitor and also depend on the government through the ministry of Labour and Social Security to carry out their responsibility of inspecting all factories in the country to ensure that the wage is fully implemented.
“If any factory flouts the agreement, we will blame Labour ministry”, he said.
He disclosed that they have so many allowances, as every sector has their basic salary minimum and that for manufacturing industry Le 900 is their basic salary beside allowances.
“We are the leading trade group council in the country; we have intervened in several crises in the country for workers”.
Albert Ojo Collier, outgoing Chairman, Industrial Trade Group Negotiation Council said he has served for over 10 years and happy for what has happened.
Ojo Collier has worked with the Union for over 30 years, starting from the position of spokesman to deputy chairman and chairman.
“We have improved on the condition of the workers in the country. We don’t interfere directly in individual factory issue because another organisation is dealing with that.”
He continued to say that when they sign an agreement it is binding on all manufacturing company to comply.
He said the Industrial Trade Group Council is one of the best in Serra Leone because they are meeting every year.
He also expressed confidence and trust on the incoming chairman, Foday Daboh as he took over him as Corporate Affairs Manager at Sierra Leone Brewery, Secretary General of Sierra Leone Association of Manufacturers.
The incoming Chairman of the Council, Foday Daboh said the role of being a chairman is very challenging but he will be treading on a path of his predecessor.
He assured the Council that he will represent them well and his door will always open to address their issues.
“I will continue the good work of my predecessor and ensure that peaceful negation is always the end of any dispute.”
Representative of the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, Abdulai Conteh, Senior Labour and Employment Officer, commended the Council for their annual re-negotiation.
He said they are aware of the global economic crisis and urged other Councils to negotiate for their workers well because failing to negotiate will affect the work of the workers as better pay requires better production.
“I hope the signing will be implemented to the letter. As a ministry we don’t want the document to be look like a birthday. Let it be gazetted and published.”
He thanked the employer for supporting the agreement.
