Employmentweb_low

EmploymEnT, woRk, and hEalTh inEqualiTiEs - a global perspective
it is expedient in that no other existing union is sufficiently
representative of the interest of those workers seeking to be
registered. for decades, trade unionists have accused nigerian
governments of ignoring several core labour standards, which the
country is obligated to comply with by international law. The
International Confederation of free Trade unions (ICfTu) reports
"serious shortcomings in the application and enforcement of all
eight core labour standards, particularly with regard to the lack of
trade union rights of workers, including the right to strike,
discrimination and child labour." (afrol news, 2006). further, trade
union rights were restricted in Export processing Zones and strikes
were prohibited in such zones for a period of ten years, which is also
contrary to Ilo conventions. Both the ICfTu and the nlC stated that
"in view of the seriousness of these problems, there is need for a
much stronger commitment to social dialogue by the federal
government of nigeria in order to achieve a culture of constructive
engagement of labour over policies and government issues."
severe hazardous working conditions and high unemployment in
rural nigeria have given rise to dramatic increases in labour
migration to urban settings. In turn, urban centres are experiencing
shortages of housing and supporting infrastructures, making bonded
labour even more prevalent in urban centres than ever before. Bonded
labour consists mostly of domestic workers, although there are
reports of similar employment conditions for temporary workers in
private and commercial sectors. Wage and employment
discrimination persist in nigeria, anchored through an unmeritorious
system of nepotism and corruption. Disproportionately fewer women
are employed in the formal economy due to social discrimination in
education and training. nigeria’s minimum Wage act excluded many
workers, particularly groups where women are significantly
represented, such as part-time and seasonal agricultural workers.
Child labour is a pervasive problem in nigeria, with severe working
conditions that offer limited or no stimulation for physical or mental
development. In 2003, nigeria was estimated to have 15 million child
labourers (Dabalen et al., 2000; siddiqi & patrinos, 2006) representing
23.9 per cent of children between the ages of 10 and 14. 40 per cent of
those children are at risk of being trafficked for forced labour,
prostitution and armed conflicts. up to 6 million children do not attend
school and 2 million children work more than 15 hours a day. several
child slave camps exist in the western states, as are used slaves in
mining and on rubber plantations (olori, 2003). Three main forms of
child labour outside of the home are farm work, street vending, and
weaving. Children as young as 6 years old trade in the streets, most of
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