Labour and Industrial Relations
Kelechi Adiele & Co. is versatile in the legal dynamics of labour and employment relationships, and advises both employers and employees on their reciprocal rights and duties under the applicable laws and international best practice, and under their contracts of employment.
The Firm also has expertise in the resolution of labour and industrial disputes. Recently, the Firm successfully settled a dispute over non-compliance with the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) governing the employment of the Managing Director of a foremost market research organization in Nigeria. This feat was achieved by mediation at the Lagos Multi-door Courthouse, where parties were guided to amicably resolve their dispute over the purported dismissal of the Managing Director in contravention of the MOU; and the question of his due entitlements was equally negotiated and resolved.
Where ADR is not feasible, the Firm represents clients before the National Industrial Court and has recorded remarkable successes through the Court in favour of employers and employees alike. Kelechi Adiele & Co. also has experience in the collective bargaining process and has negotiated and drafted Collective Agreements, Recognition Agreements and other transactional documents relating to trade union law and practice.
In recent times, the health and safety of workers in the workplace has become topical against the background of the myriad of occupational hazards associated with industrialization. Also, the recent outbreak of the Covid-19 Pandemic has thrown up peculiar challenges for both employers and employees in the workplace. In this regard, the Employees’ Compensation Act 2010, which makes provisions for compensation for any death, injury, disease or disability arising out of or in the course of employment comes into focus. Also, the Pensions Reform Act of 2014, which makes provisions for uniform contributory pension scheme for public and private sectors in Nigeria has placed considerable new obligations on employers of labour, as well as employees. The Firm advises both employers and employees on their duties and responsibilities under these and similar legislations.