The staffs of Transcorp Hilton hotel Abuja have embarked on an indefinite strike over the retrenchment of some of their workers, few weeks after the organization announced plans to downsize due to the decrease in income caused by COVID-19.
According to reports, more than 40 percent of the workforce were sacked and the Staff, on Monday insisted that the management must meet their demands.
Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has also accused Minister of State for Labour, Festus Keyamo, of getting bosom with Transcorp top officials instead of protecting the interest of the people. They have however urged Pres. Muhammadu Buhari to intervene.
The Managing Director, Transcorp Hotels Plc, Dupe Olusola, stated that the impact of the pandemic on business has never been witnessed.
“At the inception of the pandemic, we maintained a 100% salary payment to our over 900 employees in March and April. We also activated various cost-saving initiatives such as renegotiation of service contracts and restructuring of our loans. We suspended further commitment to buy fixed assets and operating equipment as well as reducing our energy consumption and maintenance costs.
Despite undertaking these, it has become apparent that more fundamental changes need to be made for the business to survive. To this end, our workforce headcount will be reduced by at least 40%, and our reward system will be optimized”, Olusola said.