Reps move to protect Nigerians in foreigners’ firms

The House of Representatives is considering making it compulsory for foreign organisations employing Nigerians to register with the Federal Government, and to review periodically the welfare packages for the workers.

The proposal was made by the Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, in the Labour Act (Amendment) Bill, which he first sponsored in 2016 under the 8th National Assembly and reintroduced and in July 2019.

Concerns have been raised about the welfare of workers, who are usually engaged on a casual basis in companies owned by foreigners, especially in the manufacturing sector. While the workers are poorly or irregularly paid, they die or get injured on duty, amidst maltreatment by their employers.

The legislation, a copy of which our correspondent obtained on Sunday, is titled, ‘A bill for an Act to amend the Labour Act to make further provisions for the compulsory registration of all foreign employers of labour in Nigeria by the Ministry and other related matters.’

Gbajabiamila explained, “This bill seeks to amend the Labour Act to make provisions for the registration of all foreign employers of Labour in Nigeria with a view to further protecting the interests of Nigerian workers.”

A new Section 69 of the principal Act to be created will read, “(1) Subject to the provisions of Section 68 of this Act, the minister shall make regulations for the registration of foreign employers and such regulations made under this section shall (a) provide for the compulsory and free registration of all foreign employers of labour and the mode of registration shall be prescribed in the regulations; (b) Prescribe the manner of, and conditions for registration and the person by whom and the manner in which the register is to be maintained; (c) Prescribe the circumstances in which employers may be struck off the register; (d) Prohibit the employment of any person whether Nigeria nationals or nationals of any other country by unregistered employers.

Also in the proposal are “(e) Provide for the compulsory and routine inspection of employers to ensure compliance with the provisions of this act and such other laws protecting the welfare of Nigerian workers and have the reports of every inspection delivered to the minister with 14 days of completion of the inspection; (f) Provide for compulsory and quarterly submission of report of activities and level of compliance to the minister; “(g) Contain such incidental or related provisions as the minister may think necessary or expedient; and (h) impose penalties for contraventions of the regulations not exceeding a fine of N500,000 or imprisonment for a term of two years or both.”