R-L: Executive Director, Maritime Labour & Cabotage, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Mr. Gambo Ahmed, Chairman Ports Consultative Council, Otunba Kunle Folarin and the Director, Maritime Labour Services, NIMASA Mr. Ibrahim Jibril, during the National Joint Industrial Council (NJIC) Meeting in Lagos.
The
Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has
restated its commitment to the welfare of dock workers in the
maritime industry as the Agency organised a meeting of the employers
and labour unions in the maritime sector under the aegis of the
National Joint Industrial Council (NJIC) in Lagos.
Chairman
of the NJIC who is also the Executive Director, Maritime Labour and
Cabotage Services, NIMASA Mr. Gambo Ahmed noted that the initiative
was with a view to use the tool of constant engagement to ensure that
the dock workers’ get better living conditions in line with
International Labour laws.
Mr.
Gambo urged the operators to bear in mind that the welfare of the
dock workers will impact a lot on the ports industry and also in turn
the entire economy, hence the need to ensure that they are properly
catered for. “When the welfare of the dockworkers’ are
put into proper perspective, we have a healthy maritime sector,
thereby leading to the actualization of a robust economy”, the
Chairman stated.
Also
speaking was the Director, Maritime Labour Services, NIMASA, Mr.
Ibrahim Jibril who also corroborated the stance of the Chairman of
the NJIC, and said that the new agreement will demonstrate the
Agency’s commitment, which is in line with the theme of the
107th International Conference held in Geneva viz; “A
future with Decent Work and also building a future for the Dock
Labour Industry”.
He
also assured them that the Agency has also put in place all necessary
machineries towards ensuring a successful exercise in line with the
provisions of the existing agreement and the demand for its review.
The
Chairman, Ports Consultative Council (PCC), Otunba Kunle Folarin who
represented the Seaports Terminal Operators Association of Nigeria
(STOAN) commended NIMASA for its role in maintaining the already
existing peace in the ports industry and expressed optimism that the
negotiation will yield positive results as all parties involved will
work as a team and ensure that no dock worker is short-changed.
Other
stakeholders at the meeting were the President General of the
Maritime Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MWUN), Comrade Adewale Adeyanju
and the President of the National Association of Stevedoring
Companies (NASC), Mr. Bolaji Sunmola who unanimously agreed that they
will all work harmoniously to sustain the peace in the industry. They
also used the opportunity to assure NIMASA of their continuous
support.
The
NJIC is the body responsible for negotiating and reviewing of minimum
standards for dock labour, which successfully reviewed the last
Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) that lapsed on 31st May,
2018. The CBA is subject to review every two years.
The
regulation of dock labour minimum standards is the statutory
responsibility of the Agency as enshrined in the Act, Section 27 (1)
sub-sect (b) of the NIMASA Act.
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