Airtel/labour crisis: FG to regulate outsourcing, labour related issues in telecom sector

Following thelabour crisis spearheaded by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Airtel, the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu, has said the Federal Government will set up a technical committee on regulation of outsourcing and other labour related issues in the communication sector.The minister said the Federal Government would continue to sustain the fundamental human rights of Nigerian workers including the right to unionise as guaranteed in the extant labour laws.Chief Wogu was speaking after the conciliatory meeting between the management of Airtel Networks Limited, its business partners, the National Union of Post and Telecommunications Employees (NUPTE) and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).According to the Assistant Director, Press, in the Labour Ministry, Prince Samuel Olowookere, who gave the details of the agreement, the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity will collaborate with the Federal Ministry of Communication Technology and other stakeholders to set up a technical committee on regulation of outsourcing.Prince Olowookere stated that the Labour Minister had also decided that other labour related issues in the communication sector of the economy, should be included in the work of the committee.The agreement was reached at the end of a two-day intensive meeting at the instance of the Minister of Labour and Productivity.The agreement reached states that the issue of the outstanding quarterly incentive scheme for the fourth quarter of 2010 and the first quarter of 2011, as contained in the earlier agreement signed by the parties on July 27, 2011 shall be implemented accordingly.The agreement also states that Airtel will mandate its business partners, Spanco channel BPO Limited and Tech Mahindra Nigeria Limited, to ensure the resumption of all the staff affected by the suspension of operations not later than Thursday, October 13, 2011.
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