Employers of labour in the Nigerian aviation industry have been tasked to embrace social dialogue, rather than resort to sack of employees in a period of global crisis.
Employers, especially airline operators were also enjoined to abide by the terms of the employment contracts as much as possible, even in a crisis period.
These were parts of the communiqué issued at the end of the symposium organised by the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE) with the theme: ‘Labour Relations in a Pandemic: Challenges to Employer and Employee,’ in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, recently.
The communiqué was jointly signed by Engr. Abednego Galadima and Comrade Olatunji Sekoni, the President and General Secretary, NAAPE, respectively.
Participants at the one-day symposium said that social dialogue between employers and employees would go a long way to create a win-win outcome for an organisation.
The communiqué also appealed to employers in the period of pandemic to endeavour to ensure safety at work and comply with the Employee Compensation Act, stressing that once there is adhered to, mistrust, which usually exists between employers and employees would be erased.
Participants further charged the governments at all levels to ensure quick mediation in labour cases within the industry and charged it to proffer stable policies that would ensure growth in the sector.
Besides, the communiqué canvassed for adequate training for aviation personnel, especially pilots and engineers, whom it described as critical workers in the sector, adding that it behoved on the government and employers to ensure support funds, improved health care services within the airport and reduction in airport charges for workers.
