The Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment has begun the National Integrated Labour and Factory Inspection in Akwa Ibom state.
It also expressed satisfaction with the level of compliance to Labour Laws and Acts as well as global expectations by industries and organisations in the state.
The Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mrs Daju Kachellom, spoke with our correspondent in Uyo, on Monday after leading a delegation of the officials of the ministry on an inspection visit to Savanna Energy limited and Champion Breweries in Uyo, the State capital.
She explained that the visit was not an investigation into the affairs of the organisations, but to ensure compliance with labour laws.
“We are here actually to flag-off the National Integrated labour and factory Inspection, to ensure that factories and industries comply with labour laws of the country as well as with global expectations,” she said.
The Permanent Secretary added, ” We have interfaced with the management, and we are quite happy with what we have seen; their compliance with certain Labour Acts.
“The Union is happy with them as well and we want to tell other factories and organisations in Akwa Ibom that we are here not on the investigation; it is just to ensure that the laws which are applicable to all industries have been carried out and abhere to and ensure that decent workplace for employees is guaranteed”
“As you know, we are Labour and Employment, so we are actually very concerned about the welfare of the staff as well as the organisations.
“If they are in tune with national standards in terms of occupational safety as well as ensure that the social contract between the organizations and the people is well understood and guaranteed.”
The director, the inspectorate unit of the ministry, Mr. Ajuwon Dauda Adeniyi, said that though the ministry apply sanctions where necessary, the essence of the inspection, he said, is to “point out areas where compliance level is low and tell the organizations what is expected of them.”
The delegation was conducted around the various units and departments of Champion Breweries Limited and Savannah Energy limited in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom state capital.
