Labour leaders call for decent jobs, fair wage

Labour leaders on Wednesday called on the Federal Government to formulate more policies that would ensure decent jobs to reduce agitation by workers.

The leaders spoke in Lagos at a forum on the need to create conducive work environment in private and public sectors.

Mrs Oyinkan Olasanoye, President, Association of Senior Staff of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions (ASSBIFI) said that creating decent workplace would result in economic growth.

According to Olasanoye, there is the need to build an economy that will put workers’ interest first and ensure a fair wage.

“Work can only be decent when the income is fair and enhances the worker’s standard of living,’’ she said.

The ASSBIFI leader said that though globalisation and technology had created wealth in workplaces, they have left many workers marginalised and uncertain of a secure future.

She advised workers to unite against slave labour, unfair wage, insecurity and salary reduction.

Mr Issa Aremu, Chairman, Affiliates of IndustriALL Global Union, Nigeria, frowned at some hazardous working conditions across the country.

He urged workers to reject them.

Aremu said that IndustriALL Global Union had started drawing attention to the plight of workers in line with the demands of International Labour Organisation.

He called on the Federal Government to urgently inaugurate the Minimum Wage Committee to avoid industrial unrest.

“The organised labour should give the government a time frame to constitute and inaugurate a new committee to negotiate a new minimum wage.

“We cannot continue to work under this unjustified pay under this high cost of living and hardship.

“It is our right to have a new minimum wage because the N18, 000 Minimum Wage has elapsed,’’ he said.

Aremu appealed to workers across the country to unite and fight against unfair labour practices as well as demand for better work environment.