Some workers of Interface limited and Textile Trico Manufacturing Company limited have accused the management of the company of intimidation, human rights abuse and deliberation termination of service appointment with no compensation.
This came to light after one of the workers; Patrick Owusu who served in one of the partner companies for over 22 years was sacked late last year without compensation or end of service benefit.
Patrick Owusu who was employed as a machine operator at the then Nsawam Foam company limited , a mattress manufacturing company then was moved to interface limited , a partner company ,subsequently as a loading officer after officials sold the Nsawam foam company to Ash foam 12 years ago.
Prior to his sacking without end of service benefit, the owners of the company attempted to transfer Patrick Owusu to the Weija branch and later to the Takoradi branch with no plans for accommodation or transportation for him and his family , in an attempt to frustrate him to quit the job. Realising the man was determined to stay and work, the management of the company then decided to finally implicate and sack him.
This usually happens to workers who turn 60 years or on the verge of retirement. ‘These people will sack you when you turn 60 years or when you are about to retire. They will try to find something to implicate you and sack you so that they don’t pay you any end of service benefit. A staff revealed.
In the case of Mr Patrick Owusu, he received his dismissal letter on the 5th of October 2021 and the content with ref no ITL-DL-001-1021 reads ‘you will recall that on the 27th of August 2021, you appeared before a board of inquiry and again on 24 of September 2021 you were invited to appear before another committee both in connection with unsavoury comments you made against the executive Director Mr Azzam Sbaiti.
When you appeared before both panels you admitted that you said you would cause the arrest of both the executive director but denied the other allegations that you said he assaulted someone. On both occasions you were represented by your counsels. When you appeared before the committee on 24th September, you pleaded for forgiveness through your counsel and admitted that the statement which you made was inappropriate. You then promised to submit a formal letter of apology. Even though you denied one allegation and admitted the other, the two panels found you culpable of the two statements.
The committees established that you had exhibited an act of gross insubordination, which constitutes a misconduct against the executive director, subsequently, you have breached article 10(a) of the collective Bargaining agreement between the industrial and commercial workers union (ICU) on one hand and Interface Limited and Textile Trico Manufacturing Company on the other. Management has accepted the recommendations of the two committees that you should be dismissed from the company. Subsequently, with effect from 6th October 2021, your service will no longer be required in interface limited. You are to hand over any company property that may be in your possession. Management wishes you the best of luck in your future endeavours. Kind Regards, Alex Daary, Director Administration and Human Resources.
When contacted on telephone, the head of administration and human resources, Alex Daary confirmed that Mr Patrick Owusu has been sacked and did not deserve any end of service benefit. According to him the case has been reported to the National Labour Commission by the victim, Patrick Owusu and discussions are still ongoing so he would not comment on it further.
An official of the National Labour Commission called Victoria, in a telephone conversation with the New Crusading Guide confirmed that the case has been reported and being handled by the commission but declined on comment on it.
Meanwhile, Mr Patrick Owusu says he is not happy with the way the case is being handled by the Commission which is being done in favour of the Syrian owners of the company. He has thus, appealed to the Minister of Employment and labour relations to intervene and help him seek justice .he said all the allegations levelled against him were flimsy and malicious , calculated and planned to get rid of him without paying him any compensation or end of service benefit. This he claims is weird.
