The Nation Newspaper

Category: Labour

  • Labour urged to fight for minimum wage implementation

    Labour urged to fight for minimum wage implementation

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) have been charged to go beyond the mobilisation of workers against the Senate’s decision to move the national minimum wage from the Exclusive to the Concurrent List of the Constitution.

    The unions have been urged to declare a national protest against the attempt by employers, in the private and public sectors, not to implement the minimum wage.

    The organised labour has also been called to begin the mass mobilisation of workers and the poor for a 48-hour solidarity strike with mass protests and rallies to compel the Federal Government to immediately implement its agreement with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and adequately fund education.

    Socialist Party of Nigeria (SPN), a new party for Nigerian workers and masses, made the call in its reaction to the communiqué issued at the end of the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the NLC in Abuja.

    According to the communiqué, the NEC resolved to, among other issues, mobilise against the Senate resolution to move Minimum Wage from Exclusive List to Concurrent List; participate/mediate in the current negotiation between the federal government and striking lecturers under ASUU; and take up labour issues in Anambra State.

    The group, in a statement issued by its National Chairperson, Segun Sango, argued that many workers might not warm up to NLC’s mobilisation against the Senate’s decision on minimum wage, having not really benefited from the national minimum wage.

    It therefore called on the labour leadership to start conscious mobilisation of workers against not just the Senate attempt to make minimum wage voluntary for governments and private sector, but also against attempt of various governments to rubbish the minimum wage law.

    “The issue of minimum wage goes beyond issuing threats to the Senate. Therefore, for the labour leadership to effectively mobilise workers against the anti-worker Senate, it must link this with the struggle to ensure full implementation of the national minimum wage.

    “Given the unsatisfactory way the labour leadership had handled some struggles in the past, especially the cancellation, at the midnight of July 20, 2011, of the strike on minimum wage that had been adequately mobilised for and planned to begin on that day and the January 2012 struggle on fuel price hike, it is most likely that any call by labour for a general strike and mass action will be trailed by mass skepticism, even among workers and pro-labour activists.

    “We therefore urge the labour leadership to immediately begin holding mass meetings with workers and pro-labour activists to assure them of their commitment to struggle as part of the preparation for the suggested strike which should also include mass rallies and circulation of leaflets. This must also include immediate resuscitation of Labour and Civil Society Coalition (LASCO) that must come to stay as a fighting platform against all neo-liberal capitalist attacks on the working people and youth,” the group added.

    On ASUU strike, the group kicked against the decision by the NLC to mediate in the current negotiation between the Federal Government and the striking lecturers, stating that the ‘negotiating’ approach of the Congress will lead to unwarranted compromise rather than helping the striking lecturers achieve their demands.

    It argued that the NLC does not seem to be much interested in compelling the government, through direct support to ASUU and mobilising its members for solidarity action, to accede to the demands.

    “With the terrible conditions of education vis-à-vis collapse of infrastructure and falling standards, it is only appropriate for NLC to mobilise its massive support for ASUU and its demands. To limit the issue of ASUU strike to the “interests of students” is like helping the government to pile up pressure on ASUU and force it to raise compromises that will neither end the agitations of ASUU nor resolve by any means, the monumental problems facing education sector.

     

     

     

  • Shut Arewa Textile to reopen soon

    After an eight-year closure, this ArewaTextiles Limited, Kaduna may reopen early next year, barring any technical hitch.

    The management, it was learnt, is working towards reopening the firm in the next six months after defraying all bank debts and paying outstanding workers’ salaries estimated to be N1billion.

    The company is said to have opened a refinancing deal with the Bank of Industry (BoI), for higher garment production on its return.

    Officials of the National Union of Textiles Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria (NUTGTWN) held a rally in Kaduna, where they told workers that their outstanding salaries and allowances would be paid before the firm reopens.

    Workers, who defied a heavy rain to attend the rally, held at the plant’s main entrance, jubilated at the news of its planned return.

    The Union’s Deputy Secretary-General, Chimezie Sylvester, who disclosed this during his addressed to workers, said the daughter of the sole owner of the company, Dr. Nemile Achimugu, has opened discussions with the Union Bank Plc and labour on the plans to reopen the factory.

    According to him, Achimugu called a meeting of all departmental managers, supervisors, senior staff union executives, and junior staff union executives to discuss the plans to revive the company.

    The workers, he said, were notified that the management has signed an agreement with the receiver (Union Bank) to recover its assets and all security documents with the bank within six months.

    He said the management and the Union Bank officials would enter the premises within two weeks to take inventory of what remains of the company, adding that within the next six months, the company would settle its debts to the bank and begin payment of workers entitlements.

    Sylvester said the company intended to go into massive garment production, going by the direction of negotiations with BOI.

    “We are hopeful that with the on-going efforts and commitment of Achimugu, workers’ entitlements would be settled as soon as possible and Arewa Textiles brought back to operation,” he said, assuring that the union remained committed and willing to cooperate with the Board of Directors of Arewa Textiles with a view to ensuring the settlement of the outstanding benefits of the workers and reviving the company.

    On January 5, 2005, the management of Arewa Textiles Plc shut down the company.

    Before the closure, Sylvester noted that workers’ salaries, allowances, gratuities and other entitlements of workers amounting to N1 billion were not paid,  adding that the Union dues and other levies running into several millions, which management deducted from workers salaries, were also not remitted to the union.

    ”Prior to the closure, management on Monday, April 14, 2003 unilaterally terminated the appointment of about 342 workers while 481 were summarily dismissed for protesting the non-payment of backlog of salaries owed them by the company.

    ”The union promptly condemned and frowned at this action of management and subsequently sent a protest to the management. In order to ensure a peaceful resolution of the impasse, the Union held several meetings with the Management of Arewa Textiles Plc all to no avail.

    “Due to the relentless pressure, management eventually called for a meeting of stakeholders (Stakeholders Forum of Arewa Textiles Plc.) on Monday, July 26, 2004, comprising members of the Board of directors, including the late Vice Chairman of the Board, Chief P. S. Aisha, management staff, senior staff association and workers’ representatives to resolve the issue”.

    ”Several meetings of management, union, Labour Ministry and security agencies were held and agreements reached and signed were either turned down or not implemented by Arewa Textiles.”

  • ‘Our members’ welfare has improved’

    The President of the Senior Staff Association of Electricity and Allied Companies (SSAEAC), Mr Bede Opara, said the union has raised the bar of unionism in the nation’s power sector.

    Opara said the association under its present leadership has been able to negotiate better and rewarding welfare packages for its members nationwide, adding that it has been able to collaborate with other unions and stakeholders to make the voice of the workers to be heard on policies and issues relating to the power sector.

    Opara said members of the union have also been adequately equipped through capacity building and trainings which would be of immense help to them after their exit from the power company to the various companies being set up following the reforms in the industry.

    The SSAEAC boss said due to the impact of the union in championing the cause of workers of the fomer Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), the union would still be relevant during post-privatisation era of the power sector in the country.

  • Govt okays lifts, escalators, conveyors regulation

    President Goodluck Jonathan has approved the implementation of the Regulation on Lifts, Escalators and Conveyors (LECS), the Minister of Labour and Productivity Emeka Wogu, has said.

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    During the presentation of the regulation in Abuja, Wogu said the need to issue it arose from a noticeable gap in “our effort to protect all Nigerians at work in places where lifts, escalators and conveyors are put to us”.

    He stressed that the gap has manifested in the form of increasing frequency of accidents, injuries and deaths associated with lifts, escalators and conveyors.

    He said the invocation of the regulation was in exercise of the powers conferred on him as the Minister of Labour and  productivity, by Section 49 (1) (b) of the Factories Act CAP F1, LFN 2004.

    ”The regulation before you which strengthens other provisions under Sections 24 and 25 of the Act, emerged from a painstaking consultative process which eventually received the approval of Mr. President, on June 3, 2012,” he said.

    He stressed that safety of lives and property in workplaces is a collective responsibility. He called on Nigerians, especially the media to create the needed awareness, not only about the regulation but the need for all persons using lifts, escalators and conveyors to maintain and operate them safely.

    “Let me also emphasise that my ministry will not take lightly any violation by operators and will ensure strict enforcement through our labour inspection services,” he said.

  • Enhance safety of migrant workers, ILO chief urges

    Enhance safety of migrant workers, ILO chief urges

    The Director-General, International Labour Oganisation (ILO) Guy Ryder has called member-states to step up their efforts to provide pre-departure information and training, regulate and monitor the enforcement of fair recruitment practices.

    He spoke while presenting a keynote address on youth migration and development at an event to International Youth Day

    He urged governments to ensure that their young migrants have access to adequate protection as part of the practical steps to be taken to enhance the safety of all migrant workers in the world

    He said: “Practical steps can be taken to enhance the safety of migrant workers and respect for their rights and dignity.

    “Countries of origin can step up their efforts to provide pre-departure information and training, regulate and monitor the enforcement of fair recruitment practices and ensure that their young migrants have access to adequate protection”

    According to the ILO boss, each year, many young women and men migrate in search of decent work and better living conditions.

    “This is a reality of our globalised economy. Differentiated demographic and income trends are adding to migratory dynamics and on the present course, the pressures will become even stronger”, he said.

    “It is on record that young migrants make up 27 million of the overall 214 million international migrants, but being the most mobile social group, young people constitute the bulk of annual migration movements. They largely move from one developing country to another, with South-to-North migration representing only a third of total international migration”, he said.

    “Today we acknowledge the positive contribution that millions of committed, talented and energetic young migrants make to development and the wellbeing of entire families and communities. When youth migration takes place in conditions of freedom, dignity, equity and security, it can boost economic and social development both of countries of origin and destination”, he said.

    “Unfortunately, many young migrants are easy prey and frequently get trapped in exploitative and abusive jobs, including forced labour. And too often, they, like other migrants become scapegoats for the shortcomings of economic and social systems,”he added.

    Ryder, who emphasised that the United Nations General Assembly High-level Dialogue on International Migration and Development taking place in October, this year, is an important opportunity to advance towards a framework which can uphold the rights and interests of young migrant workers, however, said: “Let us never lose sight of the young women and men at the heart of the migration process.”

    “We must assume the collective responsibility of ensuring their safety and protection. Let us join forces to maximise the development benefits of youth labour migration while striving for balanced development that broadens the options for all,”he added.

  • Workers’ forum holds Thursday

    Workers’ forum holds Thursday

    THE Joint Negotiating Council will hold its first Southwest meeting in Lagos on Thursday, August 29.

    Its Lagos Chairman, Comrade Obafemi Oyenubi said the meeting with the theme: “Integration of Public servants, is aimed at harmonising and fostering the relationship among southwest states in fighting for its members.

    He said the three-day meeting will be attended by the chairman of Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo, and Ekiti states.

    They are expected to arrive Lagos on August 28. Business session will be on the following day while the departure has been slated for Friday.

    The contingent is also expected to visit some Lagos State government top officials to further familiarise themselves with the state and talk on welfare of public servants in the southwest.

    The Lagos State Head of Service is expected to declare the meeting open at Bero auditorium at Alausa Secretariat, Ikeja.

  • NDIC chief seeks support for women

    The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) Alhaji Umaru Ibrahim has called on Nigerians to support women as they strive to take up high level corporate responsibilities.

    He spoke at the parley with the theme: ‘It is possible’in Abuja.

    He said many organisations and governments are beginning to situate the importance of women in the achievement of set objectives, adding that the era of perceiving women as home-makers was gone.

    Acknowledging the roles of NDIC’s female staff in the achievement of the corporation’s objectives, he reiterated that the forum was organised to sensitise the female staff on the key attributes needed for career growth in the corporation.

    He stressed the role of women in the nation building, involvement of women in community service, poverty alleviation and how to understand the importance of work-life balance by female staff.

    He said gender diversity in management is aimed at enhancing sound corporate governance, good corporate social responsibility to boost sustainable banking and financial inclusion.

    He said: “In keeping with NDIC’s core values of professionalism, transparency, team work as well as respect and fairness, the Corporation has always upheld gender equity, inclusion and equal opportunities in all areas of its operation.

    “In line with this commitment, the Corporation had achieved 70:30 ratio between male and female staff in recent recruitment exercises conducted between 2010 and 2013.’’

    He also said it was a deliberate policy to achieve the affirmative action threshold of 35 per cent.

    He expressed the delight that the corporation had articulated robust code of conduct and culture handbooks to forestall unwholesome practices against its female staff and urged them to acquaint themselves with the document to seek redress through appropriate channel when any career-inhibiting practices are observed.

    He urged them to sharpen their skills and exhibit high sense of commitment and diligence which are traditional qualities of women.

    Executive Director, Corporate Services, NDIC Mrs Omolola Abiola-Edewor said it was instructive that many contemporary organisations were beginning to appreciate the role of women in the workplace.

    In a statement from NDIC’s Head, Communication and Public Affairs, NDIC Hadi Birch said during the event, speakers presented three papers on topics on gender diversity and women empowerment .

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • ITF needs N112b for training facilities’ upgrade

    THE Industrial Training Fund (ITF) needs $740million (N112billion) to upgrade its facilities and build new training centres nationwide, its Director-General, Prof Longmas Wapmuk, has said.

    Wapmuk, who spoke when members of the National Assembly House Committee on Industry visited ITF’s Industrial Skills Training Centre, Ikeja said the figure was an estimate by a technical partner in Brazil.

    He said Fund was seeking the cooperation of SENAI (Servico National de Aprendizagem Industrial), a similar institution in Brazil, adding that ITF was looking forward to receiving experts from Brazil in a fortnight.

    He said SENAI was expected to help Nigeria achieve a similar feat it recorded in Brazil and should give the organisation the exact amount to complete the work after its assessment of ITF’s facilities.

    Wapmuk said ITF was spreading its tentacles to the states because this would help to combat youth unrest by engaging them.

    He said: “In October, last year, we commenced the training of 1,000 youths in each state. The pilot scheme started in Plateau State and Abuja. By the end of the year, we want to make sure that participants of this three- month training cut across all the local governments in the federation.’’

    The ITF boss said the institution had not fallen short of its national expectations of training and developing high level skilled manpower in select occupational areas considered to be of priority as well as empower youths through skills acquisition programme aimed at job creation and entrepreneurship development.

    The Chairman of the House Committee on Industry, Mohammed Ogoshi Onawo, commended the organisation for its achievement despite some of its obsolete facilties. He promised the House’s support in facilitating the passage of its budget for the upgrade.

    “The emphasis should be on training and our burden is how to make more youths employable, we know there is need to upgrade, as ITF needs to do more to change the face of unemployment in our country,” he said.

    He said ITF should be a cradle of industrial revolution, urging the management its ITF to intensify efforts at bridging the gap of unemployment in the country, adding that it has become a problem for the government.

    He said: “Politics and oil have made our leaders to become lazy. Emphasis should be shifted to youth empowerment as such would help to combat the present restiveness plaguing the country.

    “There is also need for ITF to publicise its activities so that the youths would know there is such empowerment programme for them, because it would be effort in futility after upgrade and there is nobody to train.”

    He also urged ITF to seek collaboration with multinationals such as Samsung, LG, Elizade Motors and NCC for both technical and material support.

     

  • TUC to govt: prepare for flood

    THE Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has urged the government to put modalities in place to check the impending flood predicted by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency(NIMET).

    In a statement its President, Comrade Bobboi Bala Kaigama and Secretry-General Comrade Musa Lawal, said: ‘’It beats the imagination of the Congress that our politicians are busy quarreling, engaging in fisticuffs and casting aspersions on themselves in both electronic and print media just because of 2015 elections at a time when many Nigerians have died on our dilapidated roads and as a result of the Boko Haram insurgency, ocean surges and floods.

    “The Congress and other Nigerians are certainly tired of all the drama and laxity in governance which we consider disgraceful, unhealthy distraction, and a ploy from some quarters to continually deny Nigerians good governance and dividends of our hard-earned democracy.”

    Recently, it was reported that it would take the North over 20 years to recover the farmlands and livestock it lost to floods .

    “Unfortunately, our leaders are apparently oblivious of the boldly-written handwriting on the wall. We wonder what the fate of the economy would be in the next few years if this unpalatable trend continues. And what about the adverse effects of the flight of multinational companies and mass importation of foreign goods and services?”TUC said.

    It warned that if the prediction of the meterology agency that floods may affect about 90 local government areas this year is taken serious by the government, it would not augur well for the nation.

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • ‘Productivity critical to transformation agenda’

    ‘Productivity critical to transformation agenda’

    The Minister of Labour and Productivity, Mr Emeka Wogu, has said productivity is critical to the actualisation of the Vision 20:20-20 and the transformation agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan.

    He stated this at a symposium to mark the observance of the 13th National Productivity Day/Conferment of National Productivity Order of Merit Award.

    The minister, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Clement Illoh, said the theme of the symposium, ‘’Productivity and competiveness: Determinants for Achieving National Transformation”, was not only relevant, but also apt.

    He said the observance of productivity day was a sign that the present administration was poised to harness all ideas and actions that would meet the aspirations of Nigerians.

    “As you are aware, this government is committed to ensuring that Nigeria becomes one of the largest economies in the year 20:20. Nigeria cannot afford to ignore the importance of productivity and efficiency in all our undertakings. In every country, the main source of economic growth is increased productivity. Productivity can be considered as the comprehensive measure of how effectively resources are used to generate useful output,” he said.

    Wogu said government would leave no stone unturned in ensuring the development of productive mindset that would engender development of the country.

    The Minister of National Planning Commission, Dr Shamsuddeen Usman, said the National Productivity Day was instituted to ensure productivity consciousness and excellence in public and private service.