The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the International Labour Organisation (ILO) are developing an Implementation Plan for Nigeria Trade Unions’ Labour Migration Policy 2025 and Strategies for Negotiating Collective Bargaining Agreements CBAs for Migrant workers.
A two-day workshop to strengthen the capacity of trade unions in organising migrant workers, negotiation of CBAs and advocacy for better return and reintegration of Returnee Migrant Workers was also held in Abuja by the partners.
The workshop is part of NLC’s continuous collaboration with the ILO within the context of objective 2 of the ILO-Action Project and Free Movement and Migration FMM II.
Actionable Strategies
According to the NLC, the training is expected to contribute to the actionable strategies for sustaining capacity strengthening and proffer solutions aimed at reducing situations of vulnerability faced by migrant workers through negotiated CBAs for migrant
workers.
The outcome envisaged from the gathering will is “developed implementation plan and strategies for enhanced effectiveness of trade unions in Nigeria, advocacy for the protection of human and labour rights of migrant workers”.
Welcoming participants, the Acting General Secretary, NLC, Mr Benson Upah, said the event was part of the determination to facilitate the continued strengthening of the trade unions’ structures and improve trade union services for migrant workers’ protection, particularly in the area of organising and negotiating Collective Bargaining Agreements CBAs.
Direct Interface
He said the collaboration is providing platforms for discussing actionable strategies for sustaining capacity strengthening and enhancing situations of vulnerability through direct interface with migrant workers and their communities.
“It contributes to promoting effective trade union engagement and participation in Migration Governance Frameworks at the national and regional levels through enhance capacity of affiliate unions to intensify organising of migrant workers and negotiate Collective Bargaining Agreement including the protection of the human and labour rights of migrant workers and their families.
“Acknowledging that one of the best ways to protect workers, including migrant workers, is through effective social dialogue and negotiated collective bargaining agreements (CBAs). Promote the effective implementation of the Fair Recruitment and General Principles, the Operational Guidelines on Fair Recruitment and Associated Recruitment Costs, and reduce smuggling and trafficking in persons, exploitation, and abuses, which are the policy areas,” Upah said.
He charged the participants to make use of the opportunity created by the training and develop a “doable and sustainable” implementation action plan that will drive the actualisation of the policy goals.
The policy, developed by the NLC, provides trade unions with a worker-driven framework to organise, protect, and defend the rights of migrant workers while promoting fair recruitment and decent work standards.
Realistic Actions
The Senior Specialist in Workers’ Activities (ACTRAV) at the ILO Abuja Office, Inviolata Chinyangarara, Senior Specialist in Workers’ Activities (ACTRAV) in her address, emphasised the need to translate policy commitments into realistic actions.
She also wanted the allocation of responsibilities clearly done among the tripartite constituents and the establishment of mechanisms for monitoring and accountability.
“Across the region, countries continue to navigate complex labour market challenges rising informality, evolving workplace dynamics, persistent gender inequalities, and the need to create decent and sustainable jobs.
“At the same time, commitments under national development frameworks, the SDGs, and Regional Labour Standards, place renewed emphasis on ensuring that policies and programmes deliver concrete and measurable results for working people.
“The ILO recognises that achieving these objectives requires more than good intentions; it requires effective, inclusive, and jointly developed policies, programmes and implementation plans.
“Such plans must translate policy commitments into realistic actions, allocate responsibilities clearly among the tripartite constituents, and establish mechanisms for monitoring, learning, and accountability.
“This is why the ILO places strong importance on social dialogue-driven participatory processes that bring workers and collaborating partners such as employers, CSO, media and government together, ensuring that outcomes reflect the needs and aspirations of all.”
Chinyangarara noted that commitments under national development frameworks, the SDGs, and regional labour standards must deliver measurable results for working people.
For the NLC Labour Migration Focal Person, Comrade Eustace James, “The workshop will strengthen trade union strategies for advocacy, organising, and protecting migrant workers.”
He said that the NLC is committed to developing a coordinated, realistic, and actionable Trade Union Implementation Plan for 2025–2026.