Campaign for Democratic and Workers Rights (CDWR) has condemned the Thursday’s arrest of some employees of a producing business in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

DAILY POST collected that some workers of the business, Extreme Manufacturing Nigeria Limited, had been protesting over poor treatment by the company since last week.

It was, nevertheless, collected that a few of the employees, were on Thursday, apprehended by Operation Burst, a security outfit established by the Oyo State Government.

The objecting employees were apprehended in the early hours of Thursday throughout their tranquil protest.

The workers were opposing over an improvement in their pay and working condition. CDWR in its reaction, condemned the arrest. CDWR Coordinator in Oyo State, Comrade Bamigboye Abiodun, in a statement provided to DAILY POST on Thursday, required immediate release of the employees. He then cautioned versus a repeat of attacks on rights of the employees.

The group stated, “The attention of the Campaign for Democratic and Workers Rights (CDWR) has actually been drawn to the brand-new attack and arrest of casual employees in Extreme Manufacturing Nigeria Limited who had actually been on a demonstration considering that Saturday, January 8, 2022, versus poor pay and indecent labour practices by officers of Operation Burst.

“The opposing employees were apprehended in the early hours today, Thursday, January 13, 2022, during their tranquil protest for an enhancement in their pay and working conditions. This is the 2nd time the officers of operation burst will be unleashing this type of attack on the poor objecting employees.

“The first attack on Saturday, January 8, 2022, by the same officers of Operation Burst throughout which the workers were beaten, brutalised and seven persons detained though supposedly launched after 24 hours having allegedly been required to pay N5,000 each. This wanted the DPO of Idi-Ayunre Police Station was earlier invited by the company management to repress the protest and decreased the request.

“This consists of the engagement of workers with no form of regards to work. This is an offense of the Labour Act and the company frequently benefits from this and requires the bad workers to work for 12 hours for an everyday pay of N1,700 without the right to break or fundamental healthcare services within and outside the company. Other indecent labour practices, the company is known for include using children between the ages of 14 and 16 years as casual workers.

“It was the mass and accumulated anger amongst the workers against all of these anti-workers practices that culminated into the remaining peaceful protest that broke out in the business on Saturday, January 8, 2022.

“CDWR condemns both the first and brand-new attacks on the opposing bad casual employees. It is an infraction of the right of the protesting workers to a serene assembly and freedom of expression. We call for the release of all the apprehended employees who are still in the Operation Burst detention and demand a refund of the N5,000 supposedly collected from those who were supposedly launched.

“Again, CDWR warns versus a repeat of this undemocratic conduct by officers of Operation Burst and demands instant arrest and prosecution of all of the officers who were involved in this type of prohibited and undemocratic operation.”

DailyPost