By Funmi Komolafe
A national policy against child labour is being considered by the Federal Government in an accord with the ILO that child labour is antithesis to decent work. Therefore, efforts are being made to eradicate the phenomenon.
The Minister of Labour and Productivity, Prince Adetokunbo Kayode, said this in Geneva, Switzerland, yesterday, while addressing the 98th session of the International Labour Conferences.
He, however, appealed to the International Labour Organisation ( ILO) to set up  capacity-building, monitoring, and evaluation of field projects to enhance effective implementation of programmes in member-states
Kayode also called on ILO to upgrade the office in Abuja to “serve the sub-region more effectively.â€
The minister affirmed the government’s commitment to gender equality in the workplace.
He said, “government has set gender desks in all ministries and agencies and has recently reviewed upward, the maternity leave from 12 to 16 weeks, with full pay in recognition of the ILO Convention on Maternity Protection, No. 183 of 2000.”
He said Nigeria shared the concern of ILO on the global jobs crisis and supports its effort at addressing the situation.
“This situation also worsened the poverty level in many member-states of ILO and threatened the gains already made towards attaining the millennium development goals.â€
The minister explained that this necessitated the convening of the National Employment Summit in Abuja with the technical support of the ILO office for Africa in April 2009.
Also, government has created safety nets to protect Nigerians from the negative impact of the global crisis on human beings.
Such efforts include, plans to have a comprehensive social security police for the country.
In addition, he said “ the draft bill on employees’ compensation is now awaiting the third public hearing before its passage into legislation by the National Assembly.â€
The minister said government “ recognises the cardinal objectives of safe and healthy working conditions and environment as components of integrated national developmentâ€, Therefore he said, “ the extant Factory Act and other related Labour legislations are being reviewed by the national assemblyâ€.
On HIV/ AIDS in the world of work, the minster called for “a comprehensive recommendation that will address the devastating effects that this scourge has had on human resources development of many nations, particularly in sub-saharan Africa.
In Nigeria, the ministry of labour and productivity in conjuction with social partners has developed a National Policy on HIV/AIDS in work placesâ€.
Disclaimer
Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.