The Federal Government has commenced the enforcement of occupational and health safety in workplaces to ensure global best practices.
Prof. Stephen Ocheni, the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, said this during an Integrated Labour Inspection and Enforcement Services at Dantata and Sawoe Company on Thursday in Abuja.
He said the inspection was to ensure that work environment, equipment and operations were in conformity with the precepts of occupational safety and health principles.
Ocheni said the inspection was symbolic as it was part of efforts to ascertain and ensure that Nigerian workers were safe in their workplaces.
He said: “The essence of the inspection is to showcase the workplaces in Nigeria, whether formal, semi-formal and informal sector of the economy that the present administration holds in high esteem, the Decent Work Country Programme.
“The NILIES is one of the statutory responsibilities and critical mandate of the ministry and in doing this, it is in tandem with global practice.
“The ministry creates the enabling environment for Decent Work and sustainable economic growth and development through the use of best practices in labour administration.”
The minister added that the inspection was to ensure that factories abide by
labour laws as enunciated by both the extant labour laws of 2004 and the International Labour Standards.
Nasiru Dantata, the Executive Director, Dantata and Sawoe, assured the inspection team that the company always obey laws on labour issues.
According to Dantata, the company obeys laws on occupational health safety rules, pension scheme and severance packages for workers.
He said: “This is because our company has been in existence for the past 40 years, so, we try to put in place things that will make our workers happy.
“We also collaborate with senior and junior staff unions.”
Dr. Ifeoma Anyanwutaku, the Director, Occupational Safety and Health, Ministry of Labour and Employment, said the visit was to ensure the enforcement of labour laws, especially as it concerned health and safety of workers in factories.
Anyanwutaku said: “So, it is a symbolic visit, to ensure that company workers benefit from the Employers Compensation Act and that they do not face hazardous conditions at the workplace.
“This visit is very important because when workers are in conducive environment, they are more productive.”
Adebayo Somefun, the Managing Director, Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund, said the monitoring was imperative to ascertain the working relationship between employers and their workers.
Somefun, who was represented by Dr. Kelly Nwagha, the General Manger, Health Safety and Environment of NSIFT, called on the management to ensure that workers in the company benefit from the Employee Compensation Act.
He said: “This will safeguard workers in workplaces and compensate injuries sustained in the course of work.”
He also called on management of the company to ensure that workers enrolled in the pension scheme.
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