Berger Paint explains gratuity, pension policy to NSE over staff demonstration
Reporter
Fired up by a near shutdown following staff dispute over gratuity and pension issues, Berger Paints Plc has assured stakeholders and the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) in particular that the peaceful demonstration by some sections of its staff on deadline for the end of gratuity payments would not have adverse effects on the company’s business plan.
Yemi Temisanren, Head, Human Resources at Berger Paint Plc, while addressing concerns raised by the NSE on the issue, indicated that the essence of the new policy on gratuity by the company is to ensure smooth operations and unfettered payment of salary and allowances despite the inclement operating environment.
“Following the new development on the Nigeria’s pension reform, the company’s Board had earlier fixed December 2015 as the exit date for the gratuity but increased the employer’s pension contributions and announced other allowances to boost staff morale.
“These were affected through constant dialogues with the staff’s representatives. However, some sections of the staff are pressing for elongation of the exit date for gratuity,” Temisanren explained in a statement pasted at the NSE website.
Managing Director Berger Paint Plc.
The statement said that aside from the regular monthly salary, employees enjoy a range of benefits designed to make their terms and conditions of service competitive.
It further noted that the management would continue to keep an open door for more discussion with the staff’s representatives in order to ensure their understanding and appreciation of the efforts of the board at moving the company forward despite the vagaries in the operating climate.
The company also assured the investing public that all the company’s depots are operating optimally.
The company’s Chairman, Dr. Oladimeji Alo recently listed strategic initiatives such as depot outsourcing scheme, greater marketing support, digital presence, factory modernization and implementation of an Enterprise Resource Planning System as some of the factors that enhanced the company’s performance last year.
He explained that initiatives which would be executed this year to further boost the company’s revenue include unveiling of the new automated factory, redesigning of packaging materials, and utilising ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme (ETLS) to expand presence in West Africa, beginning from Ghana.