An international non-profit organization, The Solidarity Center, recently conducted a comprehensive two-day training session. The aim was to enhance the capacity of labour leaders and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in effectively enforcing workers’ rights. The training also emphasized freedom of association and collective bargaining through collaborations between labour unions and CSOs.
Addressing the participants, who were representatives from organized labour, CSOs, and the media, Mr. Sonny Ogbuehi, the Country Director of the Solidarity Center, highlighted one of the major training objectives. He stated that it was crucial to discuss labour laws and how to hold the government, unions, and employers accountable in addressing issues affecting workers in the country.
In 2021, we held our first organizing academy for the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC). We recruited leaders and identified the necessary issues and skills that workers need to strengthen their unions and exert their power. The subsequent organizing campaigns in five sectors proved to be successful as we were able to organize thousands of workers.
Mr. Ogbuehi expressed his concern about the violation of workers’ rights and called for the examination and strengthening of the nation’s labour laws. He emphasized the need for enforcement and penalties against violators. He said, “There is no point in having laws if they lack the force they are supposed to have. We need to figure out how we can hold employers accountable and entrench greater accountability in our labour space.”
There has been a disturbing increase in the exploitation of workers by employers, as well as infringements on workers’ rights to unionize. Consequently, there is a renewed call for collaboration between trade unions and civil society organizations to advocate for actions that promote a decent work environment.
Trade unions in Nigeria allege that many employers and business owners intimidate and threaten workers with dismissal if they insist on their rights to belong to an association. The workshop participants recognized the urgent need to build the capacity of trade union leaders and foster strategic collaboration with civil society partners to improve working conditions for workers.
The participants agreed that trade unions cannot continue to work in isolation. To effectively advocate for workers’ rights, they emphasized the importance of involving pro-worker CSOs, lawyers, and the media. Beyond traditional trade union tactics and strategies, this collaboration will help drive the advocacy for a fair and just work environment.
The workshop also focused on developing strategies to promote compliance and enforcement of existing labour laws that discourage outsourcing and casualization, which are significant challenges in many businesses. Additionally, advocacy campaigns are being developed to strengthen the Labour Inspectorate Department in the Ministry of Labour and Employment, ensuring effective regulation.
As a result of this meeting, five advocacy teams of five people each will undertake legislative or governmental advocacy visits. During these visits, the teams will present a “Charter of Demands” and communicate their requests to the officials they meet. Furthermore, the Solidarity Center will print copies of the Charter of Demands and flyers to raise awareness among the broader workforce and communities.
Following the legislative meetings, the Solidarity Center will provide financial assistance to support a media campaign aimed at publicizing the Charter of Demands.
The workshop participants represented the media, International Lawyers Assisting Workers (iLAW), Civil Society organizations, and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria.
