The federal government has said it would sanction employers of labour over indecent working conditions that “negate local and international labour laws.”
The Minister of Labour and Employment, Mr. Simon Lalong, said this during the inauguration of Decent Work Country Programme (DWCP) III, (2023-2027) on Friday in Abuja.
The DWCP was inaugurated to promote jobs, guarantee rights at work, extend social protection and promote social dialogue.
The programme was organised by the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment in collaboration with the International Labour Organisation (ILO).
Lalong said decent work deficits had continued to abound in the economy as informal employment has become the norm, while well-paying jobs that offer social protection benefits are the exception.
According to him, workers in the informal economy are exposed to poor working conditions, low pay, long hours of work, low rate of unionism, and unsafe working environments.
“The 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 the 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 he had directed the Inspectorate Department in the ministry to wake up to its responsibility and ensure the full compliance with decent work regulations across the country.
“I shall be engaging relevant government agencies to ensure that these entities are fully made to face the rod of the law.”
Also speaking, the ILO country director to Nigeria, Dr. Vanessa Phala, said the process of developing the DWCP was robust, inclusive, and consultative with the participation of the social partners.
According to her, the ILO in 2021 conducted a diagnostic study on the decent work situation in Nigeria, which gave it reliable data on the situation at hand.
She said several recommendations were made to address the decent work deficits in Nigeria.
Phala said the DWCP document would serve as a tool in 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.