“no bank in Nigeria shall retrench or lay-off any staff of any cadre (including full-time and part-time).”
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has averted impending retrenchment in the banking sector following growing talks of mass downsizing of workforce in the industry with reasons hinged on economic slump occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to reports, the CBN insisted no bank worker, whether permanent or temporary, will be sacked due to the current economic situation.
The assurance came, on Sunday after the Apex bank met with Bankers ‘ Committee on a warning earlier issued by the Federal Government to employers against workers during the coronavirus outbreak
The Committee’s decision followed a “Special Meeting,” held on Saturday, which was taken to “help minimise and mitigate the negative impact of the COVID19 pandemic on families and livelihoods.”
Specifically, the Bankers’ Committee, an umbrella body of CBN officials and managing directors of deposit money banks (DMBs), had warned that “no bank in Nigeria shall retrench or lay-off any staff of any cadre (including full-time and part-time).”
The Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, had on May Day, said: “Employers will not be encouraged to disengage staff without prerequisite social dialogue and clearance from the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment.”
The Trade Union Congress (TUC), had on Thursday, urged the Federal Government to protect workers from “some uncharitable employers,” who planned to make workers victims of COVID-19 following speculations of mass sack in the banking industry, and others sectors in the economy.
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Consequently, the Federal Government had warned employers against sacking workers during the lockdown without prerequisite social dialogue and clearance from the Ministry of Labour and Employment.
In agreement with the government, the Committee also stated: “The express approval of the Central Bank of Nigeria shall be required in the event that it becomes absolutely necessary to lay-off any such staff.”
In a statement yesterday, the CBN and the Bankers Committee said its decision came after a “further review of the implications of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Nigerian banking industry.”
It added that this is even as the Committee is not unmindful of “the issue of the operating costs of banks in view of the disruptions emanating from the global economic difficulties,” while the CBN solicits “the support of all in our collective effort to weather through the economic challenges occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic.”
The Guardian NG
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