FG to stop abuse of Nigerian workers

THE Federal Government, yesterday, expressed its determination to protect Nigerian workers from abuse in the place of work ,especially employees engaged through private employment agencies, warning employers to stop patronizing unlicensed private agencies. It also threatened legal action against such employers.
To achieve this objective, it launched the Code of Conduct for private employment agencies in Lagos yesterday.


Speaking at the launch of the new code which is a product of the Human Capital Providers Association of Nigeria, HuCaPan, facilitated by the Ministry of Labour and Productivity and the Nigeria Employers Consultative Association, NECA, Permanent Secretary Ministry of Labour , Dr. Clement Illoh, promised that Nigeria would ratify Convention 181 of the International Labour Organisation, ILO, which came into force 13 years ago.

He said, labour controllers in all the states of the federation would be directed to work with HuCaPan to ensure that private employment agencies adhere to the code of conduct.

President of HuCaPan, Mr. Neye Enemigin said “services provided by Private Employment Agencies represent a modern answer to reconcile the requirement  of labour flexibility  for user companies and need for work security for employees”.

Mr. Enemigin, who acknowledged the  input  of the ILO and the European Union  in the document, said his organisation  believed “that the credibility and reputation of the private employment sector will be shaped by the code of conduct , as it will instill confidence and sanity in the industry and help private employment agencies become better service providers”.

The Director General of the Nigeria Employers Consultative Association, NECA, Mr. Olusegun Osinowo, said though employers had a right to engage in out sourcing of employees, it must  “comply with the decent work agenda”  adopted by  the ILO.

The ILO’s  country director for Nigeria, Ms. Sina Chuma Mkandawire,  represented by Mr. Pius Udoh said the “ ILO recognises that private employment agencies can play useful roles in a well-functional labour market.  Some of such roles include protection of  workers against abuses; facilitation of the right to freedom of association, promotion of collective bargaining  and social dialogue necessary for a well-functioning industrial relations system”.

The representative of the European Union, Mr.Claude Perez  urged all stakeholders to implement the new code of conduct which was also designed to protect migrant workers.


Source: Vanguard