Daniel Kanu
CEE-HOPE, a non-governmental organisation committed to the protection of rights of women and children, has called for the inclusion of domestic workers in the minimum wage bill package.
The group harped on the rights of domestic workers in the country to unionise, and be treated with dignity.
Betty Abah, women and children’s rights activist and founder of CEE-HOPE, made the plea in a statement sent to Sunday Sun. Abah had earlier presented the NGO’s memorandum at a public hearing held on July 22, in which she made a strong case for domestic workers to be recognized a part of unionism as prescribed by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) ‘Convention 189’ passed in 2011 which Nigeria has yet to domesticate.
“By adopting the ILO’s Convention 189 which prescribes fair working conditions for domestic workers among which is unionisation, a lot of progress would be made as they would be aware of their human and labour rights, get fair wages and be part of the mainstream, organised labour.
“The public hearing held on July 22 was part of the legislative process in the working of a bill titled: “A Bill for an Act to Provide for the Documentation and Protection of Domestic Workers and the Employers and for Other Matters Connected Therewith, 2024.(SB. 272)” The Bill was sponsored by the Senator representing Jigawa North-West, Babangida Hussaini.
‘’ I am urging the Senate to ensure that the bill will be one that will defend the rights of domestic workers in Nigeria to unionise, put them on minimum wage scale and be treated with dignity,” she stated.