By Chukwuma Umeorah
The Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment has stepped in to address a deepening labour dispute at MDV Sacks Ltd, a subsidiary of the Indian-owned Bhojsons Group, where over 300 workers on Monday staged a mass protest over what they described as “slavery-like conditions.”
The protest, led by the National Union of Textile, Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria (NUTGTWN), brought production at the company’s Ewekoro-based factory in Ogun State to a standstill. Workers accused the management of egregious labour violations including denial of leave, lack of safety provisions, refusal to issue appointment letters, no medical facility, non-payment of allowances, and routine suppression of union activities.
“This is not employment, it is modern-day slavery,” said Emeka Nkwoala, Deputy General Secretary of NUTGTWN, who led the protest. “Our members are forced to work seven days a week without rest, they are denied access to healthcare, made to pay N18,000 for safety boots, and sacked at will for standing up to management.
“This is slavery in our own country. We want investments that will provide decent jobs to our people not a job where have to work around the clock with the benefits or entitlements.”
Nkwoala disclosed that the Ministry of Labour had invited the union and company management to a reconciliation meeting in Abeokuta, following MDV’s alleged breach of a seven-point agreement signed last week. According to the union, the company reneged on its commitment by blocking the newly appointed union caretaker chairman from assuming office—a move seen as an escalation of its anti-labour stance.
“Just a day after signing the agreement, they locked out our caretaker chairman. This protest is the direct result of that provocation and the other issues they have refused to address,” Nkwoala stated. “If the company believes it can trample on Nigerian workers with impunity, it is mistaken.”
He also condemned attempts by the company to mobilise community elements to discredit the union’s leadership and distract from the real issues. “They suddenly dusted off long-abandoned vehicles to ferry people around for a counter-protest. This is a calculated effort to divide the workers and intimidate union representatives,” he alleged.
Responding to reports that community leaders had raised objections against the union’s chairman, Nkwoala said such interference was unacceptable. “No community has the authority to determine who leads our union. We will investigate any genuine concerns, but we will not tolerate external meddling.”
He stressed that while the union welcomes foreign direct investment and industrial development, it will not allow any investor to violate Nigerian labour laws under the guise of business. “We are not against any investor, but they must comply with the law. Nigerian workers are not tools—they deserve dignity, safety, and respect.”
The union declared Monday a ‘free day’ for all MDV workers and urged them to await further instructions pending the outcome of the ministry’s mediation.
As of press time, the company’s management could not be reached for comment, as multiple attempts to obtain a response at the factory premises were unsuccessful.