Workers on Monday celebrated the May Day. The occasion provided an opportunity for them to make fresh demands for improved conditions of service. TOBA AGBOOLA reports.
It is celebrated in many countries. In Nigeria, May 1 is a day of celebration, reflection, and renewal. Also, it is to honour the men and women who contribute to the development of the economy.
On this day, workers come together to celebrate their achievements and reflect on their challenges. They also use the opportunity to demand better working conditions, fair wages, and improved benefits.
The labour movement has a rich history of fighting for workers’ rights, and Workers’ Day is a testament to the struggle for better conditions for workers.
The government also plays a role in the celebration of Workers Day. It recognises the contributions of workers to the economy and uses the opportunity to reaffirm its commitment to improve the working conditions of workers. The government also announces new policies and initiatives aimed at improving workers’ lot on such a day.
The theme for this year’s May Day is: “Workers’ rights and socio-economic justice”.
The objective of the theme might not be far-fetched with what workers have passed through in the last one year.
At the event, the Organised Labour called for workers-friendly policies. It urged the government to halt any programme that might hurt its citizens and workers.
The President, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero and hisTrade Union Congress (TUC) counterpart, Festus Osifo, said workers were more resolute to resist any bad policy.
“Our nation must lead with a job-led growth. When jobs grow, income increases and the economy is revved, but we need to protect those that work in these jobs. To protect them, we must ensure that the right legal environment is created and frameworks for compliance with laws are established,” he said.
To achieve this, the labour leaders called for the deepening of the engagements at the National Labour Administrative Council (NLAC), expanding the periodicity of meetings, the establishment of tripartite workplace audits, encouraging the registration of more unions to cover the unorganised sectors as well as speed up the trade dispute resolution mechanism.
Experts said workers’condition has not seen any improvement since the celebration of the last year’s May Day
Rather, the labour leaders said the condition of the workers had worsened. Due to inflation, workers have had to contend with the high cost of essentials like foods, electricity bills, and price petroleum products without any commensurate increase in wage. Workers may also have to wait until next year before getting any pay rise, if it is possible without the government and employers foot-dragging on the negotiation as it has happened in the past.
Although the Minimum Wage has become a law, which any violator could be prosecuted, labour is yet to avail itself of this opportunity to secure justice for its members against states who are yet to implement the wage four years after.
Ajaero said their celebratiion of the Workers Day is not borne out of the fact that workers have had their needs met, neither is it based on the fact that labour get their demands met on a platter of gold without any struggle, but that they fought and lived to fight another day was worth celebration.
“It is not that we are comfortable that we celebrate. It is not that we are not exploited, neither is it that we are not emasculated. It is not that we are not denied, pauperised and afflicted. Our celebration is a recognition of our fundamental role in breathing life into our societies.
“It is borne out of our recognition of the near-divine and pristine duty to global sustainability; an understanding shaped by the fact that workers remain the only key to life. We may have gone unappreciated, but we realise that without us, Nigeria and other nations will become dysfunctional. No wheel can turn anywhere in the world without us,” Ajaero said.
The NLC chief said: “You cannot continue to treat us poorly and expect a miracle from us. We are shaped by how we are treated as anything that happens to us in the world of work impacts us positively or negatively causing us to either withdraw or commit more to work.
“It is, therefore, very simple, if our social partners want more from us, if they want to increase productivity, which is the basis for national development.Then, they must be prepared to treat us better. They must be prepared to treat us first as humans, then as major contributors to wealth creation”.
Also, Osifo lamented what he called the rising wave of “impunity in our workplaces and the actions of public sector employers …”
“Actions against state governments that are yet to fully implement the 2019 National Minimum Wage Law and owes arrears or salaries, pensions and allowances and actions against private companies nationwide that have turned their workplaces into platforms for lawlessness and dehumanisation of workers.”
Listing their demands from the government, Osifo called for the review of the privatisation of the electricity sector.
“That the resumption and ramping up of the activities of kidnappers and bandits after the election should be addressed.
“That the Judiciary should purge itself and redeem our democracy by its handling of the various election petitions before it.
“The setting up of an independent panel to investigate the INEC chairman and his team in their conduct of the last general election” and “investigate the spending of N12billion by the Aviation Ministry to buy 10 fire trucks, among others,” he added.
One of the major challenges facing workers is the issue of low wages. Many of them are paid very low wages, which are often below the minimum wage. This makes it difficult for them to afford basic necessities such as food, housing, and health care. The situation is even worse for those working in the informal sector, where wages are often not regulated and can be very low. In addition to low wages, workers also face long working hours. Many work for up to 12 hours a day, often without overtime pay. This leaves them with little time for rest and leisure and can have negative impacts on their health and well-being.
Another issue facing the workers is poor working conditions. Many are forced to work in unsafe and unhealthy environments, such as factories with poor ventilation and inadequate safety equipment. This can result in work-related illnesses and injuries, which can have long-term consequences for workers’ health.
Furthermore, many workers do not have access to social protection schemes, such as health insurance and pension schemes. This means that they are not covered in case of illness, injury, or retirement, and are left vulnerable to economic shocks, he said.