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| CEE HOPE NIGERIA |
Workers' rights organizations, CeeHope
Nigeria and the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation, have called on President Bola Ahmed
Tinubu's administration to ensure that domestic workers are included in the
upcoming minimum wage policy. This plea was made during a one-day seminar
focused on the rights of domestic workers in Abuja on Thursday.
Betty Abah, founder of CeeHope Nigeria,
highlighted the severe hardships faced by domestic workers due to their
extremely low wages in an interview with DAILY POST. Abah stressed the need for
equal rights and fair compensation for domestic workers, akin to those enjoyed
by mainstream workers in Nigeria.
“Domestic workers deserve a living wage
that meets their needs,” Abah stated. “This issue is about women’s rights and
protecting a vulnerable community. Our campaign aims to bring attention to the
exploitative working conditions of domestic workers in Nigeria, who often work
around the clock without adequate compensation or recognition.”
Abah also mentioned ongoing efforts to
unionize domestic workers to empower them to claim their rights. “In Nigeria,
many domestic workers are subjected to relentless work schedules, which is
unjust. This often leads to dire consequences, including deaths and the
inability to pursue education or personal development. Domestic workers should
receive a proper minimum wage and the same rights as other workers in Nigeria,”
she added.
Dr. Claus-Dieter König, Regional Director
of the Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung West Africa, echoed these sentiments,
emphasizing that domestic workers have the right to unionize just like any
other workers globally. “This seminar is crucial because a significant portion
of Nigeria's workforce consists of domestic workers, particularly women. It is
essential for these individuals to have equal rights,” he said.
This development coincides with ongoing
efforts by Nigerian workers, represented by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC)
and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), to push the government towards implementing
a new minimum wage. Recently, organized labor groups halted economic activities
to protest the government's delay in adopting a new minimum wage and reversing
the electricity tariff hike. This strike was temporarily suspended after the
government assured labor leaders that a minimum wage higher than N60,000 would
be considered.
Negotiations between the government and
labor unions have since resumed, with the federal government initially
proposing N60,000 as the new minimum wage, while organized labor has advocated
for a figure closer to N494,000.
As discussions continue, the inclusion of domestic workers in the new minimum wage policy remains a critical issue for advocates fighting for fair labor rights and compensation in Nigeria.
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