MTN Denies Casualisation, Claims Employees Are On Full-Time Contract

Telecommunications firm, MTN has denied claims that its workers are on casualisation basis.

    This is coming after the picketing of its offices nationwide earlier this week by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) over claims of casualisation of workers.

    MTN, while denying the allegation, disclosed that its employees have full-time employment contracts, adding: “To enable our organisation to focus on delivering our core services and in alignment with global best practice, we engage licensed specialised service providers to support our operations.”

    The firm, in a statement signed by  its  Corporate Relations Executive, Tobechukwu Okigbo,  yesterday and made available to journalists, said  it consider the rights of all its employees to be paramount and have consistently ensured that these rights are protected. This right, according to MTN, includes the fundamental human right to freedom of association as enshrined in the Nigerian constitution.

   The South African telecommunications giant said it ethos was not to coerce employees to do anything against their will. “We have no objections to our employees forming a collective, through a union, or choosing not to do so. In fact, MTN has Employee Council made up of officers below Management cadre. Council members are democratically-elected representatives who ensure that labour-related issues are addressed,” it stated.

    MTN said it provide working conditions in line with international best practice, stressing that all employees earn well above minimum wage.

   “They have access to a minimum of 20 paid leave days yearly; flexible working hours; four months paid maternity leave; fully funded pensions; staff buses; mortgage subsidies and group medical cover with international emergency evacuation for employees and their immediate dependants. These are just some of the benefits that contribute to making MTN a great place to work,” MTN stated.

     According to the firm, over the years, it has engaged productively with representatives of Labour Unions, who reached out, holding numerous extensive meetings. The telecommunications firm said it will continue to do so, pursuing amicable resolutions in its negotiations with organised labour.

    MTN noted that the safety and welfare of its employees will remain a primary concern during these discussions. “Given ongoing interventions by various stakeholders – Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the security agencies,

“we trust that there will be no further protests, aggression, attacks on our employees or damage to the network and property. Most of all, we expect that our employees’ rights to associate freely and without coercion will be respected.”

   Meanwhile, the telecommunications firm assured it’s over 60 million customers in the country of improved connectivity.

   “The events of this week have been difficult and disruptive. However, this has in no way impacted our continued commitment to our people, our customers and this great nation. All of us at MTN want to express our sincere gratitude to you for standing by us during this challenging time.

   “Connectivity plays a crucial role in your ability to run businesses, stay connected to family and attend to daily priorities. We understand this and assure you that we will continue to work hard to give you the uninterrupted service you deserve,” MTN stated.