The International Labour Organisation, ILO says it will continue to facilitate and provide support for workers, employers and government’s representatives to negotiate and discuss issues of workers in Nigeria.
The Country Director of the ILO, Vanessa Phala stated this in Ilorin the Kwara state Capital during this year’s World Day for Decent Work organised by Michael Imoudu National Institute for Labour Studies (MINILS).
She said that the organisation had also made some strides in the number of some policy documents that guide and provide clarity on issues of labour and employment.
Mrs. Phala said that “ILO is working on a new decent work programme.
According to her, part of the programme the organisation has identified borders around employment and social dialogue.
“I am happy that through the Nigerian Ministry of Labour and Employment, we now have advisory committee that will sit and dialogue on issues of labour on matters that are of common interest to the tripartite partners of the ILO in Nigeria,” she stated.
The ILO Country Director disclosed that it was the organisation’s honour to collaborate with the institute as it commemorates World Day On Decent Work which began since 2008 by trade unions across the world.
Understanding of Workers Rights
She stressed that through this collaboration, the organisation hope to bring some light to the fundamental principles of rights and the understanding of workers rights particularly now during the global pandemic where the nation has seen some challenges that are facing the world of work such as retrenchment.
Answering another question, she expressed the confidence of the organisation in the Nigerian Government in addressing the issue of insecurity and chatting a way forward.
Mrs Vanessa Phala is the officer in charge of Labour organisations for Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia and Sierra Leone and also the Liason Officer for ECOWAS.
In his remarks, Director-General of MINILS Comrade Issa Aremu announced that workers of the institute would receive 13th months salary December this year.
He said, “I am announcing for the first time we are paying our workers 13th month from this year. A well motivated force is the one that can be productive.
“Today I have directed in my capacity as the DG of the institute that all our our outsourced workers must earn minimum wage of N30,000. This is our practical demonstration that charity must start at home.
“I have also told our adminstrative staff that death benefits and entitlements for our workers must never be delayed,” the Director General assures.
On the issue of Nigeria’s 61st Independence anniversary, Comrade Aremu commended the speech of President Muhammadu Buhari which he described as fantastic .
He said the speech has set a template for all Nigerians to really get involved in the task of Nation building.
He commended the association of resident doctors for suspending their industrial action and asked the Nigerian Government and the leadership of the Resident Doctors to agree and go back to the negotiation table.
Confidence Okwuchi
