The Senate has passed to the second reading a bill for an act to provide for the documentation and protection of domestic workers and their employers in the Federal Republic of Nigeria by the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, and for other related matters.
Recall that the bill was first read on the floor of the Senate on November 21, 2023.
Presenting the lead debate on the bill, Senator Babangida Hussaini, representing Jigawa North West, emphasized the bill’s significance, considering the challenges our country has faced over the years.
He highlighted that the nation had witnessed a rise in incidents of assaults and abuse of domestic workers by their employers, including cases of slave labour, physical abuse, and sexual abuse, to name a few.
“the stories are unpleasant, traumatic, and mind-boggling, especially given that these domestic workers operate in the informal sector, lacking a collective platform to advocate for themselves, thus rendering them helpless”
” however, there is a rise in complicity among domestic workers in crimes, often collaborating with other criminal elements against their employers”
” It’s saddening to note that a very vulnerable group of this category of domestic workers have been consistently played upon by their employers or hosts” he stressed.
Senator Babangida explained that the aim of the bill is twofold: to address the employment regulations of domestic workers and, on the other hand, to tackle the issue of the rights of both employers and employees.
“He cited example of a senior flight officer of the Nigerian Airways some time when her domestic workers connived and killed her and up to today the culprit had not been found and equally there are so many reported cases where the domestic workers are being maltreated or harassed “
Similarly, Senator Babangida believes that the bill represents a clear collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Labour and international efforts to address the deplorable working conditions, exploitations, and human rights abuses that domestic workers face.
Furthermore, it aims to tackle the lack of legal protection, which makes it challenging for them to seek remedies.
Many senators who contributed during the debate supported the passage of the bill, and thereafter the Senate passed it for the second reading, with the aim of establishing at least a commission to document and regulate the activities of domestic workers in Nigeria.
In a related development, the senate also passed to second reading two bills, including the bill for an act to establish the National Eye Centre in Doma Nasarawa state sponsored by senator Muhammad Ogoshi Onawo
As well as the bill for an act to establish the National Internship and unemployment benefit scheme and for other matters therewith , also sponsored by senator Salisu Shu’aibu Afolabi representing Ogun central.
Cov/ Bashir M
