Over 100 NIDCO workers face dismissal

Workers contacted Newsday yesterday saying they had been reliably informed that 100 out of the 170 contract workers are to be sent home as part of the restructuring of the company.

On Saturday president of NIDCO Esther Farmer held a meeting with other directors of the board and arising out of that meeting, according to reliable sources, it was announced that the workers are to be sent home.

Last Monday, the 170 contract workers who occupied six floors at the Ministry of Works building in Port of Spain were moved to Anthony P Scott building on Don Miguel Road, San Juan. The building can only house 60 people and workers have been sitting out in the corridors with inadequate arrangements. Some of the engineers have no offices.

Workers told Newsday yesterday that they know that it is only a matter of time before they are sent home and several of them have one, two, and three year contracts. Last December, seven drivers were sent home and vehicles which were rented from Southern Sales were sent back to the company. Newsday understands that NIDCO owes Southern Sales a considerable amount of money, hence the decision to recall the vehicles.

One worker said, “We are working under inhumane conditions and now we are being told that we will soon be terminated in what they are describing as a bid to trim the fat. But we feel that the situation could have been handled in a more humane manner.” Efforts to reach Minister of Works and Transport, Rohan Sinanan on the matter proved futile.