HuCaPAN seeks ratification of domestic work convention

The domestication of domestic work convention would empower workers to operate under a conducive atmosphere that would boost productivity, the Human Capital Providers Association of Nigeria (HuCaPAN) has said. 

The association said at its just concluded 7th annual general meeting in Lagos that it had made presentation to the National Assembly, organised education and training workshops with the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, as well as carried out joint inspections and made alliances with the
central labour centres with a view to ensuring employment agencies employ workers u der decent working condition. 

The President of HuCaPAN, Aderemi Adegboyega, explained that under normal circumstance, employment agencies should ensure minimum wage is paid to the least workers while they also enjoy freedom of association, eligibility for pension and work under conditions that prevent injuries.  

Adegboyega decried absence of regulation and guideline in respect of large number of employees in the informal sector. He disclosed that the association has made a proposal to ministry of labour to help them come up with regulations.

His words: “Even if they ratify the convention on domestic staff or not, we have the responsibility as a country to make sure that these people are protected, what is the standard if you engage a house maid? Should you give the person a letter of know the contact of the person? Should you pay minimum wage to the person? Should you grant the person leave or allow the person to go out in a month as the case may be?
 
“All these are the standards that we should put in place and make Nigerians to know their rights, that if you are working at a place as a house help, that doesn’t mean that you are slave, you cannot be beaten or subjected to corporal punishment.

“These are things we need to put in the public domain to make people know their rights even when they are still yet to ratify the convention on domestic workers.”

In his address, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige stated that Nigeria is yet to ratify domestic work convention and the guideline on how people should be employed as domestic workers.

He said the gap is what the International Organisation on Migration (IOM) is working on through the ministry to start up the process of ratification, noting that when that is done, it will be easier for Nigeria to have the guideline for proper employment of domestic workers.

Ngige who was represented by the Director, Employment and Wages, Emmanuel Udoh said that the ministry has intensified effort to minimize the processing of recruiters licenses once the necessary requirements are met. He advised agencies to monitor their licenses to avoid being issued with fake recruiters licenses. 
 
Chairman of occasion, Director-General, Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA), Olusegun Oshinowo who was represented by the association’s Director, Learning and Development, Celine Oni said that NECA in its collective quest to create wealth is ready to partner with its collective sectorial associates to enhance competitive businesses.

He advised the body to continue to promote decent work and endeavor not to deviate from standards through its seven years of existence.