The staff of Shoprite in Nigeria have embarked on a nationwide strike. Consequently, all Shoprite shops are shutdown and customers are not able to access the shops, Elendu Reports can report.
According to Cherish Ogenyi, spokesman for Shoprite workers in Lugbe Shoprite, Abuja, the workers embarked on a strike to enforce their rights as enshrined in Nigeria Labour laws.
Ogenyi informed Elendu Reports that the South African owners of Shoprite have divested from the company and sold their interests to a Nigerian investor without consideration for the welfare of the Nigerian workers.
“We were told they sold us along with the company and this is a contravention of Nigerian labour laws and our agreement with the management of the company,” he said.
Asked how can the issue be resolved, Ogenyi said, “The management would have to discuss our welfare with us and fulfil the agreements we reached with them. We did not lock down this facility, the management did”.
“There are shops here that do not belong to Shoprite. We told them to open the place so other businesses can operate while we restrict ourselves to the area belonging to Shoprite, the management refused.”
“I have been here since 5 am that’s why I’m inside. They said my colleagues and I who are already inside
are stuck as no one can come in or go out.”