Industrial peace and harmony are needed to enhance organisational productivity, economic progress and nation building, the Chemical and Non Metallic Products Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (CANMPSSAN) has said.

At the annual National Management/Industrial Relations Workshop of the group in Ilorin, Kwara State, with the theme: Improving productivity and work ethics in the chemical sector to sustain Industrial peace and harmony, participants said it is the collective responsibility of employers and employees to maintain peace and a harmonious relationship for improved productivity to sustain business growth and profitability.

The workshop was held last weekend.

In a communique issued at the end of the workshop and endorsed by the union's President, Dr. Abdul-Gafar Mohammed and General Secretary Sunday Babalola, participants who cut across workers, captains of industries and government officials, agreed that workplace conflicts have causative factors, which must be identified and constructively managed.

Mohammed said: "Organisations' purposes do not get achieved where productivity falls, and workers' quests for better conditions are unattainable where organisations are unproductive. Employees are organisations' most productive assets and must be regarded as partners, managed to understand the aligning nature of personal aspirations with organisational purpose."

While charging employees to demonstrate their partnership with the employers in matters that relate to business sustenance, he called on employers to show commitment to the welfare of employees at all levels.

However, where conflicts of interest arise in the course of employers/employees relationship, Mohammed said resolution of such conflicts should be pursued with understanding of getting a win/win situation for both parties.

"Effective communication/feedback between employers and employees is imperative as poor communication could be disastrous in business, employment, labour and social relations," he said.

Mohammed also noted that safety at the workplace is the responsibility of all, stressing that employers of labour should ensure the provision of safety wears and safe work environment as accident in the workplace affects productivity.

He said casualisation, outsourcing and contract staffing, are different terms used by employers in managing labour cost. He, however, said it is worrisome due to the precarious work conditions employees under such categories are exposed to.

"Labour considers casualisation, outsourcing and contract staffing as unfair labour practices and therefore, recommends government intervention through favourable policies and regulations to check-mate the excesses on the side of the employers", he said.

On insecurity, the union pledged labour's support in the drive to flush out insurgents .