Over 174 MSMES to benefit from NLC training on decent work
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) says it will train 174 Micro, Small, Medium enterprises (MSMES), producing Personal Protective equipment (PPE) and healthcare related products on the promotion of decent work in their operations.
emmanuel Ugboaja, NLC general secretary, said this at a three-day workshop on “capacity strengthening of MSMES on decent work conditions for north-central local MSMES’’, on Friday in Abuja.
Ugboaja, represented by Uche ekwe, NLC head of international, said the workshop was to strengthen the capacity of MSMES in contributing to the Decent Work Agenda for the development of the country.
The workshop was organised by NLC and supported by the International Labour Organisation (ILO).
It was aimed at creating awareness for decent work conditions for MSMES producing Ppes across the geopolitical zones in Nigeria.
“The MSMES that are dominant operators in the informal economy are reputed to engage over 70 per cent of the working population, especially as it concerns women and youth.
“Therefore, promoting decent work conditions among the MSMES will increase their functionality and make them contribute immensely to economic growth and development,” he said.
he, however, noted that the MSMES had contributed immensely in the struggles to curtail the COVID-19 pandemic that ravaged the globe.
According to Ugboaja, the programme is aimed at improving their working conditions to better position them for productivity and make them competitive.
“It will further sensitise MSMES workers on the role of trade unions and associations and to enhance their capacity on bringing formality to the informal economy.
“The overall objective is to support the MSMES producing Ppes and healthcare related products to place decent work at the top of the agenda of their operations,’’ he said.
The NLC general secretary said at the end of the workshop, the participants would have gained knowledge on how MSMES can improve decent work in their operations.
he also said that the workshop enabled the MSMES to know the pillars of decent work which include labour rights, social protection, social dialogue and other critical labour market issues, and to advance formalisation.
Also, Kachollom Daju, permanent secretary, federal ministry of labour and employment, said that productive employment and decent work were key to poverty reduction.