Rising but allegedly poorly managed Chinese PayTv, StarTimes, a partnership concern between Nigerian Television Authourity (NTA) and a Chinese company may be confronted with litigation as some disgruntled staff are said to be perfecting plans to sue the company based on alleged racial discrimination, frustration and unwarranted dismissal of their jobs.
According to the affected staff who pleaded anonymity, authorities in the company subject most of the Nigerian staff to unwarranted racial discrimination and anti-labour practices.
Sources allege that Mr. Justin Zhang who recently took over as CEO, StarTimes leads the systematic anti- Nigerian campaign which has seen to the frustration and unceremonious disengagement of some notable Nigerian senior management staff and numerous junior executives of the company bothering on management highhandedness.
Nigerian management staff confirmed to have left in recent times include – Mr. John Esoimeme, its erstwhile National Sales Director and Dare Kafar, a Marketing Director with the company until March. The Head of Public Relations, Israel Bolaji was also said to have been swept by the gale, likewise Habeeb Somoye, marketing manager and Ayokunle Idowu,a content marketing manager.
Arbitrary demotion of Nigerians is also a common practice in the company and Mr. Olumide Olawuyi-Oke, described as a brilliant sales manager, was relieved of his appointment on 18 September 2016.
A staff who volunteered information to our reporter who went to see the Head, PR who was said to have left in scary circumstances earlier, said, “Most of the Nigerian senior staff who left have had face-offs with Mr. Zhang, the CEO”.
According to the source, the CEO deliberately pushes them beyond limits as he allegedly exhibits raw racism against his chosen but unfortunate targets.
A major complaint of Nigerians is the alarming disparity in the conditions of service, including remunerations and other perks of office. A Nigerian, who joined the company as a university graduate seven years ago, explained that 80% of Nigerians in the company have not benefited from any significant promotions and pay reviews in the last five years.
These issues among others were said to have been responsible for Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) decision to picket StarTimes office over its unbecoming labour practices.
A female employee in the Dealer Sales Department said of the development, these Chinese bosses have a very low opinion of Nigerians in the company and are always boasting that if anyone resigns, other Nigerians will happily replace them, the Chinese staff consistently make this boast to spite Nigerians owing to the country’s unemployment situation, the source said.
Efforts to get the company’s official position on these allegations proved abortive as our reporter was turned back from the company’s Matori office on the pretext that no one is allowed to speak with the press expect Head of PR who was never around during our visits.
Source: Brandcrunch
