By Ticha Melanis in Limbe
 |
| SONARA Rewards 115 Workers with Labour Medals |
Some 115 meritorious workers of the national oil refinery
company Ltd, SONARA were on Thursday 13 December, decorated with labour medals
of honour. 29 of them received gold medals, 38 got silver gild, while 48 got
silver.
The
workers were decorated at the SONARA club house in Bota, Limbe, by the Minister
of labour and social security, Gregoire Owona, who presided over the event. The
Minister was flanked by the Southwest Governor, Bernard Okalia Bilai.
This 13th medals award ceremony for SONARA workers coincided
with the solemn signing of the company’s agreement following their exit from
the National Collective Agreement of companies involved in exploration,
production and the refining of hydrocarbons.
The
criteria for selection of laureates included notably longevity of service, hard
work, duty consciousness, competence and contribution to the growth of the
company.
The
General Manager of SONARA, Ibrahim Talba Malla, congratulated the laureates for
excellent performance. He listed the company’s achievements since the last
medals award ceremony in December 2017 as including notably: the safe and
progressive commissioning of the first phase of the modernization project of
SONARA with some operations carried out such as electric power supply facility
for the co-generation unit; the use of the unit of nitrogen and manufacturing
as well as the production unit for catalytic reforming; the treatment of liquid
gas amongst others.
But the GM at once noted that all has not been a bed of
roses for Sonara. He said the refinery was faced with challenges attendant with
the re-start of the new unit apart from the over-bearing security challenges in
the host region.
“In
view of the technical shutdown to enable the connection of the new unit to the
existing facilities, SONARA has taken all measures in consultation with public
authorities to ensure the uninterrupted supply of petroleum products throughout
the national territory,” Talba Malla reassured.
He
thanked the ‘highly motivated staff’ of the company that worked hard to make
sure that before the technical shutdown of the company, enough fuel (222 000
metric tons) was produced and stocked to satisfy both the national demand an
exports for a global volume of 964 000M3
while marketers ferried 412 000M3 in the same period.
The
Sonara GM further explained that the company has not only guaranteed
staff-acquired rights contained in the 2013 collective agreement but also
instructed that all benefits earmarked by service notes should be integrated in
the company’s agreement.
“We
strive towards creating an enabling working environment for SONARA workers and
to put in place several incentives to motivate our staff. These will include
the payment of end of career allowances, seniority bonus and more.”
Satisfied
with the achievements, Minister Gregoire Owona congratulated the awardees for a
job well done and encouraged the management for the remarkable performance.
He
urged the medal recipients and the entire staff of SONARA not relent their
efforts towards supporting the company to play its role as a major contributor
to the national economy.
He
lauded the GM and his collaborators for the calm that reigns at SONARA, saying
it is proof of the effective social dialogue between the workers and
management.
He
urged management to implement the new company agreement that was signed so as
to ensure a serene working environment.
For his
part, SONARA’s staff representative thanked on behalf of the staff, the
government and the management for the support and encouragement, especially
with the signing of the new company agreement. He said the workers are more
committed than ever to carry out their various functions with diligent and
love.
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