1st December, 2016
The National Joint Industrial Council (NJIC) has agreed to discontinue further negotiations for the increment of wages of dock workers, given the prevailing economic conditions in the maritime industry and in the country.
A statement by the Head, Corporate Communications Team of NIMASA, Hajia Lami Tumaka, disclosed this on Thursday in Lagos.
The statement said the decision was reached at the inaugural meeting of the NJIC at the Headquarters of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) in Lagos.
The meeting was presided over by the Executive Director, Maritime Labour and Cabotage Services, Mr Gambo Ahmed, who is also the Chairman of the NJIC.
Ahmed said that the dwindling fortunes in global shipping, which had affected vessel traffic to Nigeria had negatively impacted on the fortunes of Seaports and Terminal Operators of Nigeria (STOAN).
The NJIC observed that the economic downturn had made some operators to lay off workers and in order to stem the tide of retrenchment, it was necessary to discontinue the negotiation on wage increment until the situation improves.
The President-General, Maritime Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MWUN), Mr Emmanuel Anthony-Nted, said that MWUN understood the economic situation, saying there was no need to demand for increment.
He, however, called on the terminal operators to show understanding when the situation improves and the union would call for a negotiation of wage increase for dockworkers.
Ahmed commended MWUN for showing maturity and understanding of the situation and urged STOAN members to reciprocate this gesture when the economic situation improves.
He commended all parties to the agreement for their show of maturity and called on them to show greater collaboration in order to move the Nigerian maritime industry forward.
“I, therefore, call on all Council members to cooperate with the agency toward ensuring meaningful negotiations aimed at the signing of a reviewed collective bargain agreement on dock labour minimum standards, ‘’ he said.
The NJIC which is composed of MWUN, STOAN, National Association of Stevedoring Companies (NASC), Jetty and Tank Farm Owners Association of Nigeria and chaired by NIMASA, is saddled with the responsibility of negotiating and reviewing Minimum Standards for Dock Labour industry in Nigeria.
The inaugural Council meeting, held in NIMASA was attended by all members and monitored by officials from the Federal Ministry of Transportation as well as the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment.