The organised labour and civil society groups have stormed some industrial locations in Lagos to protest increasing abuse of workers’ rights, casualisation, indecent work and inadequate pay.
The protest was part of activities to mark ‘Decent Work Day’ declared by the International Labour Organisation (ILO).
The occassion also featured seminar attended by stakeholders to highlight the rising cases of workers’ rights violation and the need for government to protect workers from further exploitation through casualisation, outsourcing, contract staffing and poor wages.
Addressing the gathering on the essence of the protest, President of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Ayuba Wabba said indecent work and abuse of workers’ rights remained a problem for workers in the country, adding that NLC had resolved to create more awareness for employers to provide decent job by visiting some companies in Lagos.
Wabba said issues such as decent work, safety of workers, workers’ rights, social protection for workers and promotion of social dialogue through collective bargaining will be addressed by the unionists as workers that create wealth must enjoy the benefits of their works.
He said the non-provision of social protection for the weak, vulnerable and those not working are the reason why there is insecurity in the land, which is an indication that the state has not managed the youths well.
Also speaking, General Secretary, National Union of Garment and Textile Workers of Nigeria (NUTGTWN) and Chairman of the Industrial All Global Union Nigeria, Comrade Isa Aremu, condemned the pattern of job recruitment in the country. He cited example of the ill-fated recruitment exercise by the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), which claimed several lives, adding that such act would not bring development to the economy.
Aremu said: “The ILO defines decent work as work that takes place under conditions of freedom, equity, security and dignity in which rights are protected and adequate remuneration and social coverage provided equally for men and women.”
He said workplace practices outside the above are commonly known as anti-labour practices and despite the fact that Nigeria, with other countries subscribed to ILO decent work agenda, unbridled pursuit of profits by employers has made work indecent and precarious for workers.
He said apart from non-payment of salaries of workers, casualisation of staff and outsourcing of workers under inhumane and criminal terms as seen in many commercial banks and government agencies have become the order of the day.
“The rise of precarious employment has multiple consequences, it affects our societies, leading to deepening poverty, increasing inequality while the incidence of precarious work continues to grow at an alarming rate in all sectors of the economy,” he asserts.
Comrade Aremu said due to the disturbing change of employment status from the conventional permanent to temporary employment in the form of casualisation, outsourcing and contract staffing, Egbin power plant in Ikorodu and Vik Limited in Isolo, would be picketed.
Other companies cited that would be visited later are Lee Group, Dura Pack limited, Watson Pharmaceuticals, Finecoat limited, Jagal limited, Current foam and Coates and Paints.
Similarly, at the seminar organised by the Association of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions (ASSBIFI), President of the union, Mr Sunday Salako, condemned a situation where workers were treated with disdain, noting that indecent employment was still being promoted in Nigeria by failure to adhere to the principle of tripartism.
He said: “Tripatism is where labour, employer and government sit and agree to what should obtain in the labour system. Rather than adhering to the tripartism, what is happening in Nigeria is bilateralism, where enterprises are collaborating with those in government to make lives unbearable for employees.”
