The Senate and National Council for Women Society (NCWS), have sought for the inclusion of domestic servants in the proposed N70,000 National Minimum Wage Scheme.
The Senate and the Women group made the call yesterday at the national assembly during a public hearing on a bill seeking for an Act to provide for the Domestication and Registration of Domestic workers and Employers in Nigeria.
The public hearing on the bill sponsored by Senator Babangida Hussaini (APC, Jigawa North West) was organized by the Senate Committee on Employment, Labour and Productivity and was chaired by Senator Diket Plang (APC, Plateau Central).
The Senate’s call for the inclusion of domestic servants in the National Minimum Wage Scheme specifically came from Senator Osita Izunaso (APC, Imo West) during his remarks at the public hearing.
“As a member of this Committee, I feel strongly that part of the provisions to be included in this bill is 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 lowest wage for the lowest public workers, so should be the case for the least domestic workers.
“We are going to put it in the bill for implementation by all employers”, he said.
Senator Izunaso however suggested that instead of domestication and protection of domestic workers and employers, the intent of the bill should be changed to registration and protection of domestic workers and their employers.
In a similar call, the Acting National President of NCWS, Mrs Geraldeen Etuk aligned with the Senate’s position for the inclusion of domestic servants in the proposed National Minimum Wage law.
Speaking from the sidelines, 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 he expressed reservations on the practical implementation of the additional scope of inclusion of domestic workers in the national minimum wage.
“There is no point making a law that cannot be implemented. However, i’m happy that the generality of stakeholders at the public hearing supported the bill and by extension, the proposed law”, he said.
Earlier in his remarks during the session, the Chairman of the Committee, Senator Diket Plang said an agency will surely be set up for the implementation of the proposed law. But in the interim, the Ministry of Labour and Productivity will drive the operation from the onset.
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