We Hold Your Brief

Dear Counsel, Your kind assistance would be appreciated on this matter.

The oil services company I have been working at for the past four years, recently embarked on an extensive reorganisation, five other staff and I, were seconded to its sister company in Dubai.

My worry is that, no provision whatsoever was made for me to travel with my wife and little daughter, and the letter of deployment states that I would be Dubai for at least two years in the first instance. I only got married last year and I can’t see how I would be separated from my family for two years.

When I had a personal discussion with the Human Resources Manager, he was of the view that I should not lodge any official complaint, as the company did not make any such provision for staff that are being transferred overseas.

Please advice. E.L., Victoria Island, Lagos.

Dear E.L., You are faced with a job situation that affects your personal and family life, and the law has made extensive provisions to take care of such situations. You may therefore, lodge an official complaint to the management of the company on this. It is just that many are not aware of the provisions of the Labour Act.

Section 44 of the Labour Act provides that ‘Where a worker is recruited for employment outside Nigeria, it shall be the duty of the employer to provide facilities at his own expense to enable the worker's family (not exceeding two wives and such of his children under the age of sixteen years as he wishes to accompany him) to accompany him to the place of employment and to remain there for the full duration of the contract: Provided that, if the contract is for less than one year, provision may be made for the family to remain for less than the full duration of the contract.’

I am surprised that your Human Resources Manager is not aware of this provision, and has asked you to keep quiet instead. Please, draw his attention to this, while you lodge your complaint to the management officially.