LAGOS AUGUST 11TH (URHOBOTODAY)-Seafarers of the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas Ship Management Limited, a subsidiary of the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG), have decried a proposed 50 per cent cut in salary.
Speaking to journalists in Abuja, yesterday, a group representing the seafarers said the protest was a reaction to a mail sent to them by the company mandating all seafarers to sign and comply with the cut within seven days or risk losing their jobs.
The agitated group who have taken to the media to air their plights is calling on the Federal Government to intervene and put an end to the unjust proposed wage cut as it does not meet up with the economic situation of the country.
The group said in the mail signed by Mr Kennedy Agbonkhese, Crewing Manager, on behalf of the company, Seafarers are required to sign the copy of the wage cut letter within one week and the reduction was in view of the revised Bonny Gas Transport (BGT) wages rate to be implemented by all NSML Shipboard personnel.
Condemning the drastic salary slash which is to take effect from Sept. 1, 2016, and the manner at which they were informed, one of the Seafares, Mr Titus Aligwe, revealed that Seafarers of other nationalities within NSML were affected by only 20 per cent cut, which means giving them better consideration above indigenous staff.
Some of the seafarers, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said their counterparts from other countries like India, Malaysia, Pakistan, Russia and Croatia, who were also in the employ of the company, had challenged the 20 per cent wage cut imposed on them.
One of the affected seafarers said, “This unjust proposed wage cut could kill dreams of achieving the indigenisation plan, which is committed to ensuring that Nigerian seafarers are well represented on the board of the BGT and NLNG chartered vessels.
“We are being forced to comply with a proposed 50 per cent salary cut within seven days or risk losing our jobs. Why should Nigerian seafarers earn lower than their foreign colleagues?”
The President, Nigerian Merchant Navy Officers and Water Transport Senior Staff Association, Matthew Alalade, said the association was informed of the situation last week.
He stated, “Although the company has blamed the economic downturn for this decision, the seafarers are not happy with it. We plan to resolve the issue on behalf of the senior officers. The junior officers are already members of the Maritime Workers Union but we still intend to protect them.
“For the senior staff, it will be a 40 per cent cut in salaries, while it will be 50 per cent for the junior staff.”
The Manager, Nigerian Content, NLNG, Mr. Charles Okon, who spoke for the General Manager, External Relations, Dr. Kudo Eresia-Eke, confirmed the review of manning levels and wage scale for officers on the Bonny gas transport vessels.
The decision, he explained, was taken to minimise the need for staff lay-offs as had been the case in several companies in the industry.
Okon said, “This action is in line with the depressed global market situation and consistent with prevailing industry rates, and has been taken in the interest of the sustainability of the business.
“In reality, the reviewed wage scale cannot be said to be a salary reduction as claimed. The fact is that the company has simply adjusted and aligned wages with internationally obtainable benchmarks.”