The International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) has ranked Nigeria among the top countries with chronic workers’ rights violations in its latest report released on Saturday.
The ITUC, representing over 191 million workers in 169 countries and territories, and with 340 national affiliates including the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), also named Costa Rica, Finland, Israel, Kyrgyzstan, Madagascar, Mexico, Qatar, the Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, and Switzerland as having severe violations of workers’ rights.
The ITUC’s ranking rates countries on a scale from 1 to 5+ based on the degree of respect for workers’ rights.
According to the report, 87 percent of countries violated the right to strike. The report highlighted that these violations occur against the backdrop of a continuing cost-of-living crisis, rapid technological changes, and worsening global conflicts, which have devastating effects on workers.
In response to the ITUC report, the NLC issued a statement on Saturday, acknowledging the findings.
“NLC acknowledges the recent report by the ITUC, which places Nigeria among the 13 worst countries for workers’ rights,” the statement read.
“This ranking, though alarming, is a critical and necessary reflection of the ongoing struggles faced by Nigerian workers. It underscores the urgent need for comprehensive reforms to protect and uphold workers’ rights in Nigeria.”
The NLC criticized the Nigerian government for its failure to protect workers’ rights adequately. “The Nigerian government, entrusted with the regulation and protection of workplace relations thus workers’ rights, has frequently fallen short of its responsibilities,” the statement said.
It cited non-compliance with labor laws, failure to honor negotiated agreements, issues with the tripartite national minimum wage negotiation process, and inadequate enforcement of occupational health and safety standards as systemic failures.
Additionally, the NLC highlighted the repression of labor unions through legal and extra-legal means, which exacerbates the plight of workers. “The increasing use of violence, threats, harassment, and intimidation rather than sane dialogue by the government in industrial relations engagements speak of the gravity of the situation in Nigeria,” the statement added.
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“Strikes and peaceful protests are often met with heavy-handed responses, undermining workers’ fundamental rights to organize and demand better working conditions.”
The NLC also pointed to employers in both the public and private sectors as significant contributors to workers’ rights abuses. “Practices such as unfair dismissals, non-payment of wages, and the exploitation of temporary and casual workers are rampant,” the statement noted.
“Many employers fail to provide basic benefits, such as health insurance and pensions, leaving workers vulnerable and insecure.”
The NLC emphasized the need for immediate and decisive action from the Nigerian government and employers to address these injustices. “The continued payment of starvation wages to Nigerian workers is a great abuse and deeply violates the rights of a worker to a decent income,” the NLC stated.
“The right to a fair equitable National Minimum Wage is key but has continually been abused in Nigeria.”
Concluding its statement, the NLC urged the Nigerian government to take the ITUC’s report as a wake-up call. “The international community is watching and documenting it as the world is now a global village,” it warned.
“There is, therefore, an urgent need to revise and enforce labor laws to ensure they meet international standards. This includes stringent penalties for violations and mechanisms to protect whistleblowers who report abuses.”
Micheal has over 5 years experience in digital journalism. He’s a New Media Expert with an interest in Human Development and Global Politics.
