Representatives of sacked employees of MTN Nigeria call centre contractor Communications Network Service Support (CNSSL) are lobbying the operator for help, Radio Netherlands Worldwide reports. The call centre in opened in Jos in 2010 was shut down in April after workers fought for equal pay with CNSSL call centres in other parts of the country, in some cases physically.
The 17,000 employees in Jos were paid the equivalent of EUR 180 a month, compared to EUR 475 in Lagos, Kano and Kaduna. The company promised a 22 percent pay rise, but then shut the facility formally on 12 July and informed staff they were formally laid off on 27 July. MTN has said that the site may be reopened if security improved in Jos.