Again, Drugfield Workers Lament Poor Incentives

Ayodeji Ake 

A Nigerian pharmaceutical company. Drugfield has again been dragged over poor health Insurance for workers, salary, and pension remittance. 

This is coming 24 months after THISDAY reported an outbreak of protest in the company that resulted in the dismissal of 19 workers. 

One of the labour members of the company who pleaded anonymity revealed to THISDAY how two of the workers allegedly died due to negligence on the part of the organisation, poor salary, and absence of health insurance for workers. 

He said: “It is a shame that a company as big as Drugfield does not have a health insurance package for its workers. Not even in incentives to encourage us. Our salary is nothing and I can tell you that pensions are close to nothing and are not even remitted. 

“Two of our workers died. I’m sure if they have a health insurance package and were paid well, they would have survived it. We understand the economy is hard but we are not demanding for much,” he said. 

Speaking further, it was revealed that the company’s ambulance is just a camouflage and not functioning. 

Issues were raised about the workers’ cooperative money, which was allegedly misappropriated by the executives, which was one of the issues that led to the protest over two years ago. 

After reaching out to Drugfield Pharmaceutical, THISDAY had a meeting with executives of the organization who debunked the allegations.

The executives said they are working on a comprehensive health package through the company’s clinic. 

The executive said it was suspended when some irregularities were discovered in cooperative activities. 

After months of promise to meet workers’ expectations, Drugfield workers are still lamenting the sufferings inflicted by management.

” We thought there would be a positive turnaround but unfortunately it’s still the same and we have evidence to prove it. Instead of them taking care of their workers, they spend money expanding the business without considering the labour working hard day and night to keep the company running. We need Intervention.

“We the staff of Drugfield pharmaceutical company need immediate attention critical situations of the staff require your urgent intervention. Our staff has been facing a hard time since the removal of subsidy from premium motor spirit (PMS) known as petrol, but the staff has been facing serious hardships of various forms, and all efforts made to appeal to our management in writing and verbal proved abortive.

” The economic hardships have brought about underground tension which can aggravate a repulsive act and negative energy flow since the management had not kept to their words that a salary review will be done in June and no form of palliative for workers. The situation is dire, and we need your help to prevail over the situation by saving our souls that the management needs to attend to promptly,” he said.