The Senate and National Council for Women Society (NCWS) are working together to ensure domestic workers are included in Nigeria’s proposed National Minimum Wage Scheme, which would guarantee a minimum wage of 70,000 naira.
The call for inclusion of domestic workers in the minimum wage scheme was made during a public hearing by the Senate Committee on Employment, Labour, and Productivity on a bill to regulate domestic work and employment in Nigeria.
Senator Osita Izunaso (Imo West) and Geraldeen Etuk, Acting National President of NCWS, emphasized the need to include domestic workers, such as housemaids and servants, in the proposed minimum wage legislation, advocating for equal pay parity with the lowest public sector workers.
Senator Izunaso stated, “As a member of this committee, I feel strongly that part of the provisions to be included in this bill is to include the domestic workers be it housemaid or servants, in the proposed N70,000 National Minimum Wage Law.”
Senator Diket Plang, Chairman of the Committee, a new agency will be created to enforce the proposed legislation, operating under the oversight of the Ministry of Labour and Productivity.
This initiative seeks to guarantee the strict enforcement of minimum wage laws for domestic workers, ensuring their protection and inclusion in the country’s overall social security framework, safeguarding their economic well-being.
