Nigeria
FG against workers indecent attitude to work. According to the Federal Government, employers who provide indecent working conditions that violate national and international labour regulations will face consequences.
This was said by Mr. Simon Lalong, the Minister of Labour and Employment, on Friday in Abuja during the launch of the Decent Work Country Programme III (2023–2027).
The DWCP was established with the goals of advancing employment, defending rights at work, expanding social security, and fostering social discourse.
The International Labour Organisation and the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment worked together to organise the programme.
According to Lalong, the lack of decent work has persisted across the economy since well-paying occupations with social safety benefits are the exception rather than the rule. Informal employment has also become the norm.
He claims that employees in the unorganised sector of the economy are subjected to hazardous working conditions, low pay, lengthy workdays, low rates of unionisation, and bad working conditions.
In addition, there are underemployment circumstances, ineffective job and job creation prospects, and other issues.
“Government is aware of the activities of some of these employers, who, due to the pursuit of profit, disregard the extant labour laws.
“This creates work environments that frustrate the attainment of decent work for employers or employees because of the quest for profit.
“Many workers are exploited and make work in very indecent and intolerable conditions, which negate all local and international labour laws.
“Hence, we shall not fail to sanction such organisations and ensure that the rights and privileges of Nigerian workers are protected,” he said.
He said that he had directed the Inspectorate Department in the ministry to wake up to its responsibility and ensure full compliance with decent work regulations across the country.
The minister said, “I shall be engaging relevant government agencies to ensure that these entities are fully made to face the rod of the law.”
Lalong said the implementation of Decent Work Country Programme would ensure that existing and new jobs in both the public and private sectors are productive.
“It would also provide opportunities for career progression to deliver a fair income and social security for the family.
“It will ensure that the tenets of decent work are mainstreamed into all Employment Generation activities,” he said.
Also speaking, Dr Vanessa Phala, ILO Country Director to Nigeria said that the process of developing the DWCP was robust, inclusive, and consultative with the participation of the social partners.
According to him, the ILO in the year 2021 conducted a diagnostic study on the decent work situation in Nigeria, which gave it reliable data on the situation at hand.
She said that several recommendations were made to address the decent work deficits in Nigeria.
Phala said the DWCP document would serve as a tool for addressing the country’s social and economic challenges.
“It will ensure job-rich, inclusive, and sustainable growth.
“It is also an instrument that the government and social partners can use to mobilise resources needed to address productive employment and decent work,” she said.
Mr Matthias Schmale, UN Resident Coordinator, said that Nigeria was lagging far behind in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
“Sadly, Nigeria is seen as the biggest in the African continent, if not by whole.
“We must really work very hard together to ensure that Nigeria, like everyone else, catches up in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
“If Nigeria can achieve the SDGs, the implementation of DWCP would be a thing of the past,” he said.
Schmale said that the UN would continue to offer the Nigerian government a series of transformative initiatives to help accelerate the SDG achievement.