The Senate has demanded that domestic servants be included in the proposed N70,000 National Minimum Wage Scheme. This call was made during a public hearing on a bill to provide for the domestication and registration of domestic workers and employers in Nigeria. The bill, sponsored by Senator Babangida Hussaini, aims to ensure proper monitoring and protection of domestic workers.
Senator Osita Izunaso, a member of the Senate panel, emphasized the need for domestic workers to be included in the National Minimum Wage Scheme. 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, be it house maid or servants, in the proposed N70,000 National Minimum wage law.” He suggested that the bill should be amended to include registration and protection of domestic workers and their employers.
The Acting National President of the National Council for Women Society (NCWS), Mrs. Geraldeen Etuk, also supported the inclusion of domestic servants in the National Minimum Wage law. Other stakeholders present at the hearing expressed their support for the bill and the need to include domestic workers in the National Minimum Wage Scheme.
Senator Babangida Hussaini, the sponsor of the bill, expressed his delight at the general support the bill received from stakeholders. However, he raised concerns about the practical implementation of including domestic workers in the national minimum wage.
Chairman of the Committee, Senator Diket Plang, stated that an agency would be set up to implement the proposed law, with the Ministry of Labour and Productivity driving the operation initially.
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