Workers under the aegis of the National Union of Chemical Footwear Rubber Leather and Non-Metallic Products Employees (NUCFRLANMPE) have urged the Federal Governmen t to adopt favourable policies to ensure the survival of businesses.

President of NUCFRLANMPE, Goke Babatunde, said this during the union’s opening yearly industrial relations seminar in Ado Ekiti, Ekiti state. He urged the government to initiate policies that would ameliorate the suffering of Nigerians, especially workers.

He lamented that manufacturers found it difficult to operate at optimal capacity due to a lack of constant power supply.
He noted that Nigerians, especially workers, are going through a harrowing experience since the removal of fuel subsidy.

The union urged the Federal Government to create local policies that would improve the economy and life of citizens.
Reflecting on the theme of the seminar, ‘Social dialogue as a vehicle for promoting decent work and industrial harmony’, he said it was time to revive local refineries, build infrastructure, as well as develop the iron and steel sector, which said is key to economic growth.

The NUCFRLANMPE chief also called on the management of companies in Nigeria to enforce a decent work agenda for employees to increase productivity and grow the economy.
He pointed out that the decent work agenda had remained a continuous campaign for the International Labour Organisation (ILO) since 1999 because it promotes the rights of workers, social protection and social dialogue.

The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, said that building the capacity of workers through training would help contribute to the development of the nation.

Ajaero, who was represented by Ekiti NLC Chairman, Kolapo Olatunde, said that workers would not be able to face those he described as ‘forces of retrogression’, without requisite capacity.

While commending the leadership of NUCFRLANMPE for ensuring that members had a good welfare package, he emphasised that this was important because the members are mostly affected by workplace abuse of rights and privileges.

“The rate of occupational accidents and exposure to hazards occurs more in the chemical and footwear companies. I have seen amputations of various kinds, mangling of body parts and gruesome deaths that remind us of the Ikorodu disaster in Lagos,” he said.

Ajaero said that decent work should be accompanied by fair wages, a safe environment, equal opportunities and the recognition of human rights at every level of the workforce.

He said: “Let this seminar be a beacon of inspiration, a testament to our unwavering dedication to creating a world where every worker’s rights are respected.
“We must protect workers in our sector; we must organise better. We must reduce the prevalence of accidents in our workplace.”

In his keynote address, the Executive Secretary of CANMPEF, Femi Oke, said that social dialogue was key for economic and social cohesion as well as good governance.
Oke advised the governments to improve the practice of social dialogue to reduce incessant unrest and improve workers’ productivity.