The Senate, along with the National Council for Women Society (NCWS), is advocating for domestic servants to be included in the proposed N70,000 National Minimum Wage Scheme.
This call was made during a public hearing at the National Assembly in Abuja on a bill seeking an Act to provide for the domestication and registration of domestic workers and employers in Nigeria.
The bill, sponsored by Senator Babangida Hussaini (APC, Jigawa North West), was discussed in a session organized by the Senate Committee on Employment, Labour and Productivity, chaired by Senator Diket Plang (APC, Plateau Central).
Senator Osita Izunaso (APC, Imo West) led the charge for the inclusion of domestic workers in the minimum wage scheme.
During his remarks, he 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, housemaid or servants, in the proposed N70,000 national minimum wage law. As N70,000 is planned to be the lowest wage for the lowest public workers, so should be the case for the least domestic workers. We will put it in the bill for implementation by all employers.”
Senator Izunaso also suggested shifting the bill’s focus from domestication and protection to the registration and protection of domestic workers and their employers.
Mrs. Geraldeen Etuk, acting National President of NCWS, shared this sentiment, arguing for the inclusion of domestic servants in the proposed minimum wage law.
Senator Diket Plang, Chairman of the committee, mentioned that an agency would be established for the implementation of the proposed law, with the Ministry of Labour and Productivity spearheading the initial operations.
