BY VICTOR AHIUMA-YOUNG & NAOMI MGBAKOR

LAGOS – TRADE Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, yesterday, in Lagos, told a team of visiting labour leaders from China to prevail on Chinese companies in the country to respect Nigerian laws and workers’ rights.

Addressing the team led by Li Ruchun, the Vice Chairman of Hubei Federation of Trade Union, President-General of TUC, Mr Peter Esele, said making the Chinese companies respect workers’ rights was one of the challenges facing organised labour in Nigeria.

According to him, “the Chinese economy is the fastest growing economy in the world.   There are a lot of Chinese companies in Nigeria. One of our challenges is how to make the Chinese companies in Nigeria respect Nigerian law and workers’ rights, so that workers can be properly treated.”

Esele told the delegation that TUC and Hubei Federation of Trade Union could work together to build capacity, among others.

He said before the end of the year, a delegation of leaders of TUC would visit China to inspect  progress on about 150 buses a Chinese company is manufacturing for the union.

Responding, leader of delegation, Mr. Ruchun, promised to impress it on the Chinese companies in Nigeria to respect Nigerian laws and workers’ rights.