By Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC)
October 7 is observed worldwide as Decent Work Day. The ILO defines Decent Work as work that takes place under conditions of freedom, equity, security and dignity, in which rights are protected and adequate remuneration and social coverage are provided equally for men and women. The theme of this Year’s World Day for Decent Work is: Just Jobs.
The World of Work has been profoundly affected globally by the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to the threat to public health, economic and social disruption. It erodes and threatens the long-term livelihoods and wellbeing of millions of working people.
Every worker has a right to decent work. But our collective aspirations for decent work is negatively being affected by employers’ greed for profit and the increasing dominance of global capital and the erosion and disregard for protective labour legislation
Employers now demand as a condition for investment, flexible labour market, a term that is associated with casual, contract and other unethical forms of employment. In the public service, workers and pensioners are facing wage cut, retrenchment and violation of rights to collective bargaining.
But as workers, we must understand that the Labour Act Caps 198 Section 7 makes it mandatory for employers to give their workers, not later than three months after the bargaining of a worker-employment, a written statement specifying the following terms:
* The name of the employer or group of employers, and where appropriate of the undertaking by which the worker is employed;
* The name and address of the worker and the place and date of his engagement;
* The nature of the employment;
* If the contract is for a fixed term, the date when the contract expires;
* The appropriate period of notice to be given by the party wishing to terminate the contract which must conform with the provision of section 11 of the Labour Act.
* The rates of wages and method of calculation thereof and the manner and periodicity of payment of wages;
* Terms and conditions relating to:
i. Hour of work
ii. Holidays and holiday pay
iii. Incapacity for work due to sickness or injury including any provision for sick pay
Under section 40 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and section 9(6a) and 9(6b) of the Labour Act Caps 198 Laws of the Federation 1990, Nigeria workers have unfettered rights to association and join the union.
It is also an essential part of ILO’s fundamental principles and rights at work that workers shall be free to exercise the right to Freedom of Association and the right to organize and engage in collective bargaining as contained in conventions 87 and 98 Decent work is your right. Do not accept inhuman and un-dignifying employment. The time for action is now.
SAY NO TO CASUAL WORK! SAY NO TO CONTRACT WORK!!
SAY NO TO JOB AND PAY CUTS! SAY YES TO JUST JOBS!!
STAND UP FOR YOUR RIGHT! ORGANISE AND JOIN THE UNION!!
HELP LINES: 080 9818 1964 & 080 6592 0000
