The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) says there is a need to strengthen interregional collaboration between trade unions in the country and countries of destination, to protect rights of migrant workers.
The General Secretary, NLC, Mr Emmanuel Ugboaja, said at a seminar in Lagos, on Tuesday, that the congress planned to sensitise stakeholders on the need for such action, in the face of increasing labour migration.
The three-day seminar, which was in its second day, was organised by the NLC in collaboration with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) in Lagos.
It has the theme, ‘’Strengthening Interregional Collaboration between Trade Unions in Nigeria and Countries of Destination’’.
‘’The labour migration trend to the Middle East is assuming a higher dimension and needs a coordinated approach through interregional collaboration between trade union organisations.
‘’The collaboration is from a country of origin and countries of destination, to promote the protection of the human and labour rights of migrant workers, and contribute to better labour migration governance across the regions.
‘’To foster interregional collaboration and contribute to promoting better protection of labour migrants in destination countries, the NLC signed an MoU with the General Federation of Bahrain Trade Unions.
‘’It is a trade union organisation operating in Bahrain, being one of the Middle East destination countries for labour migrants, including those from Africa and Nigeria.
‘’Also, it developed, validated and launched a Trade Union Information Guide on Return and Reintegration of Returning Migrants and Migrant Workers in Nigeria, ‘’ he said.
The general secretary said it had become imperative that the MoU and the information guide be given the necessary publicity and stakeholders sensitised on them.
According to him, this will contribute meaningfully to position the NLC affiliates and other relevant stakeholders for effectiveness in promoting cross boarder migration governance, return and reintegration.
‘’Also, it will ultimately reduce the serious challenges African migrant workers face in the Middle East.
‘’The outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic witnessed rising cases of migrants and migrant workers returns, especially force returns, and the increasing economic uncertainties around the world that accompanied the global pandemic is still propelling changes in migration dynamics.
‘’Therefore, the need for workers to be abreast of the information guide to strengthen workers’ participation in the return and reintegration processes, ‘’Ugboaja said.
The National Programme Coordinator, FAIRWAY Programme, ILO, Mr Austin Erameh, on his part, said that ILO’s contribution was to support the government in strengthening the implementation of its policies
Erameh said: ‘’In the context of the work that we do, and from our interaction and interface with the national stakeholders, one thing that continuously comes onboard is that Nigeria as a country possesses a very rich landscape of policy and legislation.
‘’But where the gap then lies is in its effective implementation; so that is the work that ILO is also contributing to; to strengthening the implementation.
‘’It is also to ensure that the national stakeholders, including the regulatory agencies, are better equipped to operationalise those laws and legislati ons that have been adopted by the government of Nigeria.’’
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