By Perpetua Onuegbu
CEE-HOPE, a Non-governmental Organisation, has advocated that domestic workers should join mainstream trade unions to enhance their bargaining power and dignity of labour.
The Executive Director and Founder of CEE-HOPE Nigeria, Betty Abah, made this call at a One-day Seminar on the Rights of Domestic Workers/their Labour Rights on Friday in Abuja.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the campaign focuses on upholding domestic workers` human and labour rights.
This is in line with the provisions of the International Labour Organisation Convention 189 of 2011 which deals with the rights of domestic workers.
Abah said the working condition of domestic workers in Nigeria was pathetic, adding that many of them lost their lives while other were maimed for life in the discharge of their duties
“So we are spotlighting the issue and much more than spotlighting it, working at the unionisation of domestic workers in Nigeria.
“This is not new in countries like Uganda, Kenya, South Africa, UAE and especially India.
“They have vibrant domestic workers unions and once domestic workers know their rights they cannot be subjected to working round the clock.
“In Nigeria most domestic workers work round the clock. There is hardly any resting time for them and they are paid merger wages,’’, she said.
Abah, therefore, urged organised labour to be part of the campaign for domestic workers to be part of the mainstream movement and for government to give them backing.
Mr Claus Konig, Regional Director for Rosa Luxemburg Foundation in West Africa, a German organisation working with trade unions and civil societies, said every worker had the right to belong to a trade union.
“A large number of working people in Nigeria are domestic workers most of them women with very tough daily jobs in homes that they are working and very often their rights are not respected.
“There is violence against them and that is why it is important to unionise them so that their rights can be defended.
“We know, from studies and reports, that violence against domestic workers is quite prevalent in many societies. It starts with disrespect and progresses to violence,” Konig said.
He called on government to make laws that ensures that domestic workers have a minimum wage.
“Already there are laws against violence, because you are not allowed to kill people.
“Violence against domestic workers when reported should be followed up by the police force and relevant authorities and ensure that these cases brought to court,” Konig said.
Mrs Hawa Mustapha, a staff of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), commended the NGO for initiating the seminar and pledged organised labour’s support.
Mustapha also urged domestic workers to change their public perception about themselves and place a value on their dignity. (NAN)