Lockdown: Hotel sector loses more jobs
By Sunday Ogundiran
Hoteliers are cutting jobs in desperate bid to stay afloat in business, random checks by Echonews has revealed.
Hôtel workers who spoke in confidence with our reporters said those remaining on the payroll will take various levels of salary cuts.
The workers knew the axe would come. Few persons have been booking rooms to lodge since the COVID-19 outbreak..
Anita Perfect should know. As a receptionist at Bluenest Hotel, she has stayed up night and day waiting for customers who never showed up.
« We have just two permanent lodgers since the inception of the business lockdown. » she told Echonews.
With nowhere to turn to, the hospitality industry which faced the first shock following the cancellation of flights lapsed into comma with the implementation of lockdown in Lagos.
Our correspondent who went around different hotels in Oshodi, Isolo and Ejigbo heard similar stories of lamentation over job losses caused by the additional 14 days extension of lockdown.
Among the hotels visited in Ajao Estate and other community of Oshodi-Isolo LGA are Preskin, Ibis de royale, Encore, Golden Destiny, Bluenest, Golden tulip, Marblefield, Hi point, etc. While some have suspended their operation, some others have reduced their workforce since they have fewer customers.
At ibis de royale, information gathered revealed that the hotel has just only 20 permanent lodgers in the hotel rooms.
One of the members of management who spoke to our correspondent on anonymity said: “This has made the management reduce the number of workers as we now have one kitchen attendant, one laundry person, one receptionist and cleaner who will work for a week before changing shift with another set of workers the following week.”
The source said the daily shift of work has now turned to weekly with reduction in workforce, saying the number of customers determine the number of labour force to use.
She said the situation has made the management to decide that the number of workers should be reduced 15 from 30, excluding the Managing Director and security men, adding that the hotel has to reduce the price paid daily by its permanent customers from N23,000 to N18,000 for now.
