The years of working without pay is not far behind us. The issue is predominant both in the public and private sector.
The media industry is not spared from this rot and radio broadcasting stations are filled with employees working fervently without pay and getting terminated without prior notice.
The unfair treatment of On Air Personalities in Nigeria has become unfair, vile, an act of extreme wickedness and a total disrespect of labour laws. Media houses who go months without paying their staffs and not proffering seemingly reasonable explanation for the delay should receive the long arm of the law.
This is not the case in Nigeria, OAPs who work for Sound city985FM and Urban96FM have had their fair share of unjust treatments with their employers as they have not been paid months’ worth of salary.
Due to unpaid salaries, employees of both radio stations embarked on a silent strike.
This strike was to ensure that their salaries were paid or a mutual agreement was met between both parties. The outcome of the event was rather unfortunate, three of the staffs were singled out and were relieved of their jobs. This is an unjust way for the employers to address the issue especially when they are clearly at fault.
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The unavailability if funds does not suffice as a reasonable excuse for the long delay in staffs’ remunerations. Also, if the owners are able to organise award shows, like Soundcity music awards, then payments of staffs’ salaries should not be an issue.
This act is unlawful and people who perpetuate such acts should be made to face the law. According to Section 11 of the Labour Act in relation to workers, the minimum notice period to be given before an employee is terminated is one day, if the length of service is up to three months and one month, if the length of service is five years and more. Also, salaries should be given in lieu of such notice.
The fact that none of these requirement indicated were met before workers were laid off is a testament to the disregard of Labour laws by such Organisations.
These disrespect for the constitution and unjust treatment against humanity should not be allowed to go unpunished. Employers who unjustly dismiss employers without prior notice within the stipulated period of time allowed by the law, and as agreed in their contract should be sanctioned. Section 15 of the Labour Act states that “wages shall become payable at the end of each period for which the contract is expressed to subsist, that is to say, daily, weekly or at such other period as may be agreed upon. Provided that, where the period is more than one month, the wages shall become due and payable at intervals not exceeding one month.” This means every employer is bound to pay their employees their agreed salaries as at when due.
Unfortunately, while the law is aimed to provide an umbrella of protection for employees, it has failed to proffer sanctions to defaulters. The absence of sanctions by the constitution has led to the total disregard of the law by employers. The ripple effect has led to employees being owed salaries up to months.
Without the laws being put in place, employees have nowhere to run to in situations like this. So, they work with the hope that one day their salaries would be paid.
Laws should be put in place by the government to sanction offenders, this would serve as a watchdog to employers and would lead to decent and just treatments of employees.