- Workers demand back pay, terminal and severance benefits after boiler explosion, takeover
- Some employees claim appointment letters and conditions were ignored
- Union seeks state government intervention for outstanding entitlements
Workers at Golden Guinea Breweries in Umuahia have cried out over unpaid benefits and poor treatment since the company’s takeover and a deadly boiler explosion.
to Eko Hot Blog, several brewery staff say they’ve been unfairly treated since Pan Marine Investment Limited acquired Golden Guinea Breweries. They claim the private investor has not honoured past obligations, especially for those affected by the boiler explosion in February 2023.
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Under the banner of the National Union of Food, Beverage & Tobacco Employees (NUFBTE), Umuahia chapter, workers issued a statement signed by their chairman and secretary. They argue that “outstanding entitlements of old workers” have yet to be settled. The entitlements include welfare benefits, severance allowances, and compensation for the years worked. Many say their appointments were never properly terminated or formalised post‑explosion, resulting in ambiguity over who qualifies for what.
Workers also expressed grievances that those who resumed work after the acquisition were not reinstated at their previous grades. Additionally, stipends that were promised by the new management since January 2025 have not been consistently paid. The lack of documentation, unclear severance guidelines, and delayed payments have stoked fears among staff about job security and dignity.
The union has appealed to the Abia State government, asking for oversight or intervention so that all affected staff are paid their dues. They further called for more transparency and better communication from management—particularly around what agreement was reached with the union when the company changed hands.
In addition to financial matters, workers lament the lack of clarity on who is still formally employed and who isn’t. Many say management has not given them written agreements or termination notices, which they say impedes them from pursuing legal redress or asserting their rights.
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