By FUNMI KOMOLAFE
GENEVA—The International Social Security Association (ISSA), Wednesday, in Geneva, Switzerland, commended the Federal Government for passing into law the Employees’ Compensation Act.

ISSA said it was particularly pleased that the administration of the  new policy was handed over to the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund  (NSITF).

ISSA’s secretary general,   Mr. Hans Konkolewski, gave the commendation while responding to a question during the media briefing on  the social protection policy of the International Labour Organisation at the on- going 100th session  of the  International Labour Conference ( ILC)

Although, NSITF is yet to secure a take-off grant for the implementation of the law, Mr. Konkolewski said, “pooling of funds makes a lot of sense.”

ISSA is a working partner of the ILO.

The NSITF is represented at the conference.

However, the  ILO committee on social protection estimates that  about five billion people around the wolds have inadequate social protection while one billion have nothing.

According to Mr. Michael Gichon , coordinator of the Social Protection Committee of the ILO,  urged governments around the world to invest in  basic social security.
The Pension Reform and the recently introduced Employees Compensation Act are regarded as forms of  social protection for the people.

Nigeria is one of the countries that have ratified  the social security ( minimum standards) Convention 102 of 1952.
Mr. Gichon said the     ILO  is working with organisations such as the International MonetarY Fund,  World Bank, ISSA, World Health Organisation,  United Nations Development Programme and United Nations International Childrens Emergency Fund to ensure that more countries put in place social protection measures for the old, young children, working people and other vulnerable groups.

He said about 45 countries have now ratified the ILO Convention 102 of 1952 which he said is being modified.
Mr. Gichon said by next year, the ILO committee on social protection should be negotiating a modern version of the social protection convention.

He however said social protection should be obtained  through social dialogue of employees, employers and government.

Meanwhile, the International Laour  Organisation ( ILO) is to mark  World Day Against  Child Labour  in  50 counties  including Nigeria on June 12.

The theme for the day is   “ Children in hazardous work: what we know , what we need to do”.

The 100th session of the ILC  is expected to feature   discussions on the prolonged job crisis  which the ILO  said has defied “ global efforts by governments, and businesses to generate employment and end the growing hardships people are suffering in their search for work”.

About 4,000 delegates representing employers, governments and trade unions  from 183 member countries of the ILO are attending the conference.

Nigeria is represented at the level of government, the Nigeria Employers Consultative Association, the Trade Union Congress and the Nigeria Labour Congress.