A symposium on the rights and unionization of domestic workers in Nigeria took precedence at a seminar hosted by the Centre for Children’s Health Education, Orientation, and Protection (CEE-HOPE) Nigeria, in collaboration with Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung.
The gathering, held on Tuesday in Lagos, brought together activists, social workers, and journalists to address the imperative of acknowledging and safeguarding domestic workers’ rights.
Betty Abah, the Executive Director of CEE-HOPE Nigeria, illuminated the profound oppression and obscurity confronting domestic workers in Nigeria.
“Domestic workers in Nigeria face not only oppression but also invisibility. Unlike countries such as Kenya, Uganda, and South Africa, where domestic workers benefit from unions and are aware of their rights, Nigerian domestic workers endure various abuses and lack awareness of their rights,” Abah emphasized.
“Despite providing essential services, domestic workers often lack access to rights and protections. They toil in isolation under harsh, unregulated conditions, frequently enduring underpayment and various forms of abuse,” Abah noted.
She stressed that unionizing domestic workers could serve as a bulwark for their rights and combat underage labor within the sector.
Despite Nigeria’s ratification of ILO Convention 189 in 2011, which acknowledges the rights of domestic workers, abuses persist unchecked.
Abah implored relevant authorities to redress these violations and lend support to efforts to unionize domestic workers.
Ronke Oyelakin, State Coordinator of Child Protection Network and a representative from Bimbo Odukoya Foundation, underscored the necessity of enforcing existing child protection laws.
“Child labor, particularly in domestic work, is exploitative and illegal. We must ensure that every child has equitable opportunities and is shielded from abuse,” Oyelakin emphasized.
She elucidated, “We have the Child Rights Act in Lagos State, which unequivocally stipulates that every child, regardless of family background, should be accorded equal rights.”
She also highlighted, “The International Labour Organization estimates that there are up to 15 million workers under the age of 14 in Nigeria, many of whom are household girls. A girl employed as a household worker is susceptible to various forms of exploitation, including sexual abuse.”
Human rights activist Hassan Soweto echoed the imperative for legislative review and advocacy.
“We must examine current labor laws in Nigeria and draw lessons from other African nations where domestic workers enjoy union protections. This will enable us to intervene effectively and propose new legislation,” Soweto proposed.
He further observed, “Domestic work will continue to exist and be performed by individuals; it represents the lowest rung of human endeavor. Even individuals not formally engaged as domestic workers, such as women in patriarchal relationships, often find themselves in situations where they struggle to aspire, necessitating protection.”
The seminar ended with a call to action for all stakeholders to support the unionization of domestic workers and safeguard their rights, with the aim of effecting significant changes in the sector.
Thanks to CeeHope Nigeria
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