Participant at the ongoing five day training and awareness workshop on safe migration, have called for synergy in the activities of all actors in labour recruitment industry in Nigeria.
This they said would enhance fair recruitment in the country.
The workshop which started on Monday in Keffi, Nasarawa State, North central Nigeria is for National Recruiters and Private Employment Agencies, PEAs, as an awareness creation and capacity building exercise for stakeholders in the area of Fair Recruitment.
According to the Human Capital Providers Association of Nigeria HuCaPAN, one of the organisers of the programme, the event in partnership with the International Labour Organisation ILO and the Centre for Migration Studies of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, is facilitated within the framework of the FAIRWAY programme. The programme is supported by the Swiss Agency for Development and cooperation and is designed to engage stakeholders on promoting best practices and fair recruitment in Nigeria on the application of the revised Code of Conduct and Fair Recruitment principles.
The participants are being taken through the rules and regulations governing the sector both nationally and internationally.
With topics such as National Labour Migration Governance Framework and fair recruitment, Government as a Regulator in facilitating recruitment and Decent Work in Nigeria, the role of HuCaPAN in Decent Work Agenda and International Recruitment as well as Monitoring and enforcement of PEAs in Nigeria: Understanding the revised Code of Conduct CoC in relation to National Labour Act, Standard Operating Procedure SOP on International Recruitment among others.
The stakeholders at the end of the five day training, are expected to be better equipped to face the challenges in the industry both home and abroad.
Speaking on the role of HuCaPAN in Decent Work Agenda and International Recruitment, the Executive Secretary HuCaPAN, Mr Olajide Afolabi, urged the participants to always abide by the rules guiding the industry.
Mr Afolabi said that HuCaPAN has a great stake in the nation’s development as it contribute about two trillion Naira to Nigeria’s economy annually through its activities.
He said; “The Human Capital Providers Association of Nigeria (HuCaPAN) plays a pivotal role in facilitating the country’s work agenda and international recruitment efforts.
“As a recognised body, HuCaPAN works towards promoting human capital development and ensuring the smooth functioning of the labor market.”
On the responsibilities of HuCaPAN, Mr Afolabi said that his association performs functions relating to the recruitment, deployment and management of all categories of Manpower.
“Liaising with all relevant governmental agencies having oversight functions over labour recruitment and all other related issues, liaising with employers, workers’ organisations and any other organisation or individuals in Nigeria in furtherance of its objectives.
Others are, “liaising with international bodies, governmental agencies in furtherance of its objectives, acting in an advisory capacity to national and international bodies on all matters relating to labour recruitment, and the Association’s objectives as well as all such other activities and functions as will further the course of the Association,” he said.
Mr Afolabi therefore called on all members of the Association and its social partners including relevant government agencies to work together in synergy for the common goal of building the nation.
HuCaPAn, the Executive Secretary believes is a force to be reckoned with as he said that “our industry employs over 4.5 million Nigerians in both management and non-management positions, both in Nigeria and abroad.
“The amount of funds allocated to salaries and other expenses in our industry amounts to a staggering 2 trillion Naira annually. Moreover, our members contribute various forms of taxes and charges, including Company Income Tax, Withholding Tax, Pay As You Earn (PAYE), Value Added Tax (VAT), ECA, etc., to the Federal and State Governments, as well as other government institutions and agencies.”
HuCaPAN is the umbrella Association of all PEAs registered with it.
During their group work presentation, the importance of synergy, intensifying awareness creation, need for a bilateral agreements and MoUs between Nigeria and Migrants destination countries were stressed by all the four working groups.
The five day training which ends on Friday has participants drawn from the academia, PEAs, Labour, the Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigeria Employer Consultative Association NECA, the Nigeria Police, National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons NAPTIP and the Media.
Mercy Chukwudiebere
