The Public Complaint Commission has said it will henceforth clamp down on private companies operating with anti-labour acts.
The commission already said an enforcement team had been established to identify and prosecute such companies.
The Federal Commissioner, Rivers State PCC, Paul Omebi, spoke at a town hall meeting in Port Harcourt, organised by the commission and the National Assembly for South-South zone.
The event was on Systemic and Proactive Investigation into Non-Issuance of Employment Letters by Private Companies registered in Rivers State.
Omebi explained that the meeting was to chart how to protect Nigerians working in private firms from anti-labour behaviours.
He noted that the issues of Non-Issuance of employment letters to employees were challenging and affecting the growth of businesses, adding that the commission was making concerted efforts to end the menace.
The Commissioner said the issue of administrative injustice, on how companies treat their workers, was key to the agency, regretting that it had received several complaints from people who were employed without any valid document to prove that there was a relationship between them and the company.
He disclosed that the commission, in collaboration with the judiciary, has also set up special courts to handle issues relating to employment speedily.
“Some companies fall foul of the law and think they can go free. In collaboration with the police, the PCC now has an enforcement unit where those who refuse our summons will now be dealt with directly.
“Where the need be they will be arrested and tried. There is even a provision for zonal courts, courtesy of our collaboration with the judiciary.
“It is not just waiting for the regular courts now. The judiciary will set up a special court to deal with such issues where people are not doing what they should.
“This gives us the opportunity of speedy hearing of such cases and it has increased our confidence,” Omebi said.
Meanwhile, the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Rivers State, has called for an amendment of the labour law to reflect the current situation.
The Administrative Judge of the Rivers State branch, who was represented by Abidemi Amimaseun, said there was a need to amend the labour act to capture the current happenings in the labour sector.
He regretted that many firms were taking advantage of the lacunae in the act to take undue advantages over the employees, adding that the act, if amended, would guide against the oppression of workers.
He said, “Our labour law should be amended to make a clear provision on the non-issuance of employment letters from the employer to the employee.
“When we have a clear law on this, it should help litigants coming to court. At the same time, the right of the employee will be properly safeguarded.
“We have observed the triangular concept of employment, where it appears people are employed and transferred to another company.”
