The National Union of Textile Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria (NUTGTWN) has called on the Federal Government to urgently reform the labour market by enforcing the existing progressive labour laws to protect workers from exploitation and abuse.
General Secretary of the Union, Comrade Issa Aremu, made the call in his speech during the Global Day of Mass Action for Decent Work on Monday at the Kaduna Textiles Limited in Kaduna. He said trade unions must rise up to defend the dignity of labour, fight precarious work and promote, protect and defend quality and secured employment.
According to Aremu, the Union must work to convert precarious work to regular employment with improved working condition. “Precarious work or casual work is work done under inhuman conditions, low pay, unsecured, work that violates fundamental rights at work, reduce the dignity of workers. The most vulnerable are the women and young workers.
“Some bad employers engage in casualization, paying peanuts and engaging workers for 12 hours on daily basis. In many homes child labour is the order of the day, where children are kept out of school to engage in menial jobs.” He said
The Nigerian Labour Congress NEC member lamented the condition of staff of closed Kaduna Textile Limited and other closed textile companies in the country, where the workers have suffered untold hardship due to long lay off without pay. He explained that the urgent settlement of their entitlement will go a long way to reduce their burden and alleviate their increasing poverty.
“The total entitlement of workers amount to N687,073,346. The union is using this occasion to once again call on the 19 Northern governors to address the plights of these workers. We also want this factory reopened to create jobs for the teeming population of unemployed youth in the state. Arewa Textile Limited, one of the biggest players in the industry closed down in 2005 with about 3,000 workers out of employment.
“The total entitlement amount to N640,000,000. The union is committed to getting justice for these workers the road to decent work is long but we are determined. It is heartwarming to inform you that the union was able to deliver as promised.
“The entitlement of Gaskiya Textile Limited workers amounting to N170,000,000 has been secured and will be paid soonest the same way we expect to secure others Gods willing.
“If there is the will there will be a way. Let’s join hands to stamp out precarious jobs. Let’s fight for the right to join the union, right to collective bargaining. Fighting forward decent work,” Aremu said.
