The federal government has urged employers to not to sack
workers because of the COVID-19 pandemic without first obtaining clearance.
Chris Ngige, minister of labour and employment, who made the
call in his workers day message, also said the government is seeking to create
more jobs this time.
The pandemic, which started in December 2019, has forced
many companies across the world to reduce their workforce as a result of
unusual losses.
Ngige said while the federal government is in talks with
employers of labour concerning job protection, those seeking to disengage their
employees are encouraged to also dialogue with the affected workers.
“All relevant factors to the nation’s workforce will be
identified, analysed, and solidified to ensure job retention and the continued
realization of the decent work agenda,” he said.
“In doing this, we will
be guided by the labour standards as benchmarks for social and
employment protection at this time of vulnerabilities.
“Along this line, talks are currently ongoing between the
Presidential Economic Sustainability Council and Employers on job protection
and even job creation at this time and progressively to post Covid-19 crisis.
“I wish to state that employers will not be encouraged to
disengage staff without prerequisite Social Dialogue and clearance from the
Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment.”
Ngige also said the government has also introduced special
hazard and inducement allowance for workers in the healthcare sector.
“Also, Group Life Insurance Policy has been activated for
all workers in the Federal Government Public Service as well as Employees’
Compensation for injuries, disabilities sustained and even death in the course
of discharging their duties,” he added.
The minister further called on the science, technology and
research sectors to “put on your thinking caps and join your colleagues
throughout the world and produce cure and/or vaccine for the covid-19 for
testing and other required processes and procedures.”
“Madagascar and Senegal have done it,” he said, adding: “We
can also do something greater or key into their knowledge to mass produce for
the Nigerian populace.”
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