A foreign Bank known as First Bank Sierra Leone, over the years, have been abusing and misusing workers, with the sacking of some 50 workers that have worked for over one year, without any benefit.
According to sources, it is habitual for the First Bank Sierra Leone to employ workers and not indicate their respective designation, and according to all those that have been sacked, their designation is simply Assistant Marketer, with no indication of the particular section.
In an interview with the sacked workers, they disclosed that they were not on any NASSIT Scheme, had no medical or transport allowances, and have been discriminated against, with their Nigeria counterparts getting all those facilities.
“We have been asking them whether we are on a permanent, temporal or casual basis, but their response had been that we should continue to work, which will enable us to become full time staff. This turned out to be false” they stated.
The aggrieved workers further explained that after they receive the letter that their services were no long needed in the bank, they engaged their head and enquired about the reason for their termination. According to the workers, she referred them to the management, and that all efforts made to meet the management proved futile.
The workers disclosed that others that have worked in that institution have met with the same fate, with many disclosing that after working for the institution for a year, and are desirous of being made permanent workers, they have often been terminated. This act, they said, is an abuse of the rights of workers, and an indication that the management is taking such measures because they do not want to pay all the necessary NASSIT contributions for them, and a deliberate action to deny them of similar facilities enjoyed by their Nigerian counterparts. They disclosed that there are many Nigerians working at the bank without work and resident permits.
According to Sierra Leone’s Labour Law; no worker should work as casual or on probation for more than six months, either he or she is terminated or made permanent. Any variation of this provision is tantamount to a violation of the country’s law and the right of the worker.
However, this medium contacted the Executive Director for his response, but he referred to MD for his response, stressing that he is not the right person to speak on the matter. Unfortunately, the MD is said to be out of town.
