FG reads riot act to operators of unlicensed private employment agencies

The Minister of Labour and Productivity Emeka Wogu has reiterated the ministry’s readiness to sanction unregistered private employment agencies in the country so as to eliminate quackery and ensure best practices in the sector.

Wogu stated this at a workshop on “Strengthening the Role of Private Employment Agencies in Human Resources Development” jointly organized by the ministry and Human Capital Providers Association of Nigeria (HUCAPAN) in Lagos State recently.

Represented by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry Clement Illoh, Wogu said “let me use this opportunity to reiterate that operating as a recruiter without being licensed is a violation of the law. It is also pertinent to emphasize that employers who still use the services of such unlicensed recruiters are violating the law and the ministry would not hesitate to apply the provisions of the law to deal with such offenders.”

He explained that the “the primary purpose of the workshop is to ensure compliance to standards in accordance with national labour laws and International labour conventions ratified by Nigeria”.

The minister added that if social partners adhere to rules and regulations in the labour sector, the industrial landscape will experience peace and harmony.

In her goodwill message, the Director International Labour Organisation Country Office Ms. Sina Chuma-Mkandawire noted that private employment agencies play vital roles in the labour markets and have gained increasing prominence in the area of job creation, regulation, monitoring and control, adding that HUCAPAN can play vital role in tackling the menace of unemployment in Nigeria.

Also speaking, HUCAPAN President Mr. Neye Enemigin said challenges faced by job seekers and casualization related issues can be minimized in the country by government regulation through ensuring that only licensed recruiters operate in the industry.