Janet Samuel, Abuja
The Senate and the National Council for Women Society ( NCWS), have sought for inclusion of domestic servants in the proposed N70,000 National Minimum Wage Scheme .
The call for inclusion of domestic servants in the National Minimum wage, came from both institutions at the National Assembly in Abuja during the public hearing on a bill seeking for an Act to provide for Domestication and Registration of domestic workers and Employers in Nigeria.
The public hearing on the bill sponsored by Senator Babangida Hussaini of Jigawa North West) , was organized by the Senate Committee on Employment , Labour and Productivity chaired by Senator Diket Plang of Plateau Central.
The call for inclusion of domestic servants in the National Minimum Wage Scheme, specially came from Senator Osita izunaso of Imo West, during his remarks at the public hearing .
He said : ” As a member of this committee , i feel strongly that part of the provisions to be included in this bill , is to include the domestic workers be it house maid or servants , in the proposed N70, 000 National Minimum wage law .
” As N70, 000 is being planned to be the least wage for the lowest public workers , so should be the case for least domestic workers.
” We are going to put it in the bill for implementation by all employers ” .
He however suggested that instead of domestication and protection of domestic workers and employers, the intendment of the bill should be changed to registration and protection of domestic workers and their employers .
In the same vein, the Acting National President of NCWS, Mrs Geraldine Etuk , argued for inclusion of domestic servants in the proposed National Minimum Wage law .
“The weak bargaining power of Domestic workers’ make them subject to low wages. However, their work is essential and valuable, and they should be appropriately remunerated for their efforts.” Etuk noted.
She also recommended that the Bill provides for mechanisms and measures to ensure the rehabilitation and reintegration of the affected underage, underpaid, and abused domestic workers into appropriate educational care, or vocational programs.
However during interview at the sideline of the event, the sponsor of the bill, Senator Babangida Hussaini said though he was elated by the general support the bill got from the various stakeholders, from the Minister of Labour to other relevant stakeholders but practical implementation of the additional scope of inclusion of domestic workers in the national minimum wage is what is somewhat doubtful.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Committee , Senator Diket Plang , said an agency will surely be set up for implementation of the proposed law, but the Ministry of Labour and Productivity, will drive the operation from the onset.
