We are being treated as slaves, junior workers in Chevron-EGTL, Escravos, allege

Feeds sent exclusively to Fresh Angle International this evening, Monday March 14, from Escravos (Ugborodo) in Warri South Local Government Area in Delta State, has revealed ongoing protest by junior workers in Chevron-EGTL, Escravos, claiming they are being treated as slaves, with no regards to their health and welfare.

The affected workers, who allegedly began the protest Thursday March 10, stated: “Despite the reality that we are exposed to various types of dangerous chemicals and gases on a daily basis, there is no medical retainership arrangement for our treatment. When we fall sick at work, we don’t have sick leave, they will only book us out of the site to sort ourselves, without official hospital to take care of us. We have to borrow money to treat ourselves and to make matters worse, for the days we are away treating ourselves, we will not be paid, because there is no sick leave or compensation for us, the workers”.

One of the inscriptions by the protesters

This Newspaper scooped that the protesters, who carried placards with inscriptions such as: “We are demanding for Medical Retainership care for us giving the hazardous environment in which we work”, “we are also demanding sick leave and Compassionate leave, that will help us when the need arises”, “we demand good condition of service, “what is the difference between community contract and Lagos contract”  “ we say No to no work, no pay”, “We are demanding Maternity leave for our Female workers”, “We demand Harmonized rate between Terminal-Inhouse and EGTL workers - for “One Escravos” to be beyond mere words” and

“We are demanding a Time-off rate to be applicable for all workers”, declared: “A situation where our female workers put to birth and they will not be paid for the period they are away for child birth, is highly regrettable, because there is no maternity leave.

“A system where there is disparity in the remuneration of workers of the same Craft all in the name of Terminal-Inhouse and EGTL, regardless of both being the same Chevron and more so in the same Escravos, where the Terminal-Inhouse contract is far better than that of EGTL despite the known fact that work activities and hazards are higher in EGTL than Terminal.

“A situation whereby workers are kept at home without pay or any form of compensation, leaving workers with nothing to take care of their family, putting workers in a vulnerable state causing them to beg and borrow money, is unacceptable”.

Another inscription by the aggrieved workers

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