House of Reps Probe Commercial Banks for Enslaving Marketers

 

The House of Representatives is to probe money deposit banks (MDBs) for abusing the rights of their workers by setting unrealistic deposit targets for them, the Nation reports.

The lawmakers regretted that when the workers failed to meet the targets, they were usually subjected to harassment, intimidation, demotion and summary dismissal by the management.

The decision of the lawmakers followed the adoption of a motion by Segun Adekola (APC, Lagos), who described the trend as outright breach of the dignity of the human person and of labour. He said it negates the concept of decent work Agenda of the International Labour Organisation (ILO).

He said: “Banks give their employees targets to bring in unrealistic and unattainable irrational deposits ranging from millions to billions of naira, within a time frame ranging from one to six months.

“These banks resort to unethical means to ensure that the targets are met by either explicitly or implicitly encouraging their workers, especially the female ones to engage in indecent behaviours to attract the deposits.

“Many banks are guilty of enslavement through the policy of causalisation of workers without adequate welfare packages, high level of stagnation without promotion, discriminatory practices against female workers, long working hours and vicious dismissal policies.”

 

The House is still considering the motion and have promised to carefully investigate the issues involved.