Minimum wage: Ebonyi NLC says no going back on demand
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Ebonyi Chapter, has reiterated its support for the upward review of workers’ salaries and wages, to enable them to cope with the economic recession. The state Chairman of the congress, Mr Ikechukwu Nwafor, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in an interview in Abakaliki on Wednesday that there was […]
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Ebonyi Chapter, has reiterated its support for the upward review of workers’ salaries and wages, to enable them to cope with the economic recession.
The state Chairman of the congress, Mr Ikechukwu Nwafor, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in an interview in Abakaliki on Wednesday that there was no going back on the demand.
Nwafor said the state chapter would continue to support the current agitation by the national leadership of the NLC for the upward review of workers’ pay.
According to Nwafor, the review of workers’ wages is long overdue and, therefore, called for urgent government action to address the situation.
“The last review of workers’ salaries was in 2010, about 7 years ago, while the Labour Act stipulates an upward review every five years.
“It is the position of the Nigerian Labour Congress, Ebonyi State, that the minimum wage has to be reviewed.
“This should be done with immediate effect, considering the present hardship caused by economic recession.”
He urged the government to re-position the economy and make live more bearable for the common man.
The chairman argued that workers were not the cause of the current economic recession and should not be made to suffer unduly.
He said that it was the right of workers to receive commensurate monthly remuneration from their employers for work done.
Nwafor warned that downsizing the labour force in order to raise workers’ pay was not a good option.
“Disengaging some workers in order to pay enhanced salary or wage will be counterproductive and I want to believe that government will not contemplate such move,” the chairman said. (NAN)