Indian Staff, Others Locked Out at Delta Steel

Leadership (Abuja)

Kola Niyi-Eke

24 June 2011

The crisis at the Delta Steel Company (DSC) Aladja, Delta State, over non-payment of salaries close to three years is getting worse by the day.

Expectedly, workers including an Indian supervisor, were yesterday locked out after protests which literarily paralysed business activities in the area.

LEADERSHIP gathered that the present situation at the steel company might degenerate to bloodbath if urgent steps were not taken to pacify the aggrieved workers.

Sources available to Leadership said that workers who were allegedly locked in the web of the crisis at the premises escaped by scaling the fence while others jumped into collapsed pit toilets and were later rescued.

The workers’ protest started last week Monday when they barricaded various entrances leading to the company before the situation degenerated yesterday when the security men at the gate said those willing to work would only be allowed into the premises.

The directive by the security agents infuriated the aggrieved workers who gathered at the gate and vowed not to let anyone into the company until their salaries were paid.

Soon after the vow, the Indian workers including the supervisor who often come to work in a convoy of vehicles were sighted and were ordered back, while the executive director, operations, an Indian who wanted to enter furtively with his car was detected and sent out.

A source explained that workers from grade levels 1 – 8 and those on contract had been paid one year salaries, but those from level 8 and above have not been paid.

The management issued a circular promising to pay April salary between Monday when the strike started and Friday, one of the workers told newsmen and added “we are not talking about April and May for those yet to be paid for the two months and May for those who have been paid April salary”.

The Chairman of the company, Mr. Pramod Mittel was being expected in Aladja as at the time of this report, while the Group Managing Director, Dr. Samuel Nwabuokei was said to be making effort to resolve the problem.

Acting Group Public Affairs Manager of the company, Mr. Kes Agbosa was not available for comments when our correspondent visited his office.

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