By Victor Ahiuma-Young

THE Federation of Informal Workers of Nigeria, FIWON, has called for the welfare and social protection of street and market vendors to be addressed.  The FIWON General Secretary, Mr Gbenga Komolafe, spoke   in Lagos in commemoration of the International Vendors Day which is celebrated annually on November 14.

Komolafe said that FIWON had been in the struggle for organised spaces for street vendors and other informal workers as well as the struggle for their right to social protection and structured occupational health and safety measures.

According to him, ‘’Over the years, FIWON has engaged different levels of government –  local, state and federal – as well as different ministries, departments and agencies  of government.

‘’In 2019, FIWON engaged the National Assembly for a possible institutionalisation of social protection programmes, especially in the areas of old age care and support, as well as maternal and disability care  and support systems.

‘’FIWON also partners the Social Security and Cooperative Department of the Federal Ministry of Labour to extend training and material support to vulnerable members.”

Komolafe  also noted that FIWON had worked with several international development agencies including the International Labour Organisation, ILO’s Women Entrepreneurship Development Project, WEDP.

According to him, under the project, hundreds of women were trained in basic entrepreneurship skills and supported by mentors.

Komolafe said ‘’Other organisations FIWON has worked with include the Solidarity Center on Reducing Gender Based Violence in Informal Workplaces, the University of Lagos-based Center for Housing.

‘’FIWON also has a registered cooperative society through which members have enrolled in health insurance, accessed credits and acquired solar energy products as well as participated in FIWON mortgage programmes.” 

Earlier, in a statement by the President of FIWON, Ms Frances Onokpe, and Komolafe, the group lamented that street vendors were among the most vulnerable categories of workers and were often subjected to violence.

The statement said that StreetNet International, the umbrella union of street and market vendors, had, over the years, fought for recognition of street vendors as workers.

According to the statement, the group had also fought for a stop to police harassment of its members, saying  ‘’It has also worked to protect the rights of migrant workers and cross-border traders as well as for the advancement of youths and women in leadership positions through capacity building.

‘’It pursues unity of street vendors around the world, giving them the opportunity to speak with one voice in international forums and in negotiations with authorities, especially in the International Labour Conference, ILC.”