A ray of hope for domestic workers as the House of Representatives advances rights bill
The House of Representatives on Wednesday passed the second reading of the domestic workers bill of rights, a proposed legislation aimed at establishing minimum employment standards to protect and ensure the welfare of domestic workers in Nigeria.
The bill, sponsored by Rep. Akin Alabi (APC, Oyo), seeks to set labor standards for domestic workers such as house maids, nannies, cleaners, guards (maiguards) and other household staff, addressing issues of exploitation, poor working conditions, and lack of legal protection.
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Legislative and Moral Responsibility
Leading the debate, Rep. Alabi lamented the worsening conditions faced by domestic workers in Nigeria, emphasizing the urgent need for legal safeguards. He explained the bill from two key perspectives: legislative responsibility and moral responsibility.
According to him, Nigeria signed a treaty at the International Labour Organization (ILO) conference in Geneva in 2011, committing to ensuring labor standards for domestic workers. However, since then, the country has failed to domesticate the treaty through national legislation.
“For this treaty to be effective in Nigeria, an Act must be enacted by the Parliament, as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution. It will be fantastic if the 10th House is the one that finally passes this into law,” Rep. Alabi stated.
On the moral aspect, he condemned the inhumane treatment of domestic workers by their employers, saying that many “madams” and “ogas” subject them to conditions akin to modern-day slavery.
“Mr. Speaker, this should not be happening in this time and age at all,” he declared.
Supporting the motion, Rep. Jonathan Gbwefi (SDP Nasarawa), acknowledged the cultural complexities surrounding domestic labor in Nigeria. He pointed out that in many African societies, children and domestic workers are often viewed as sources of labour, particularly in farming and household chores, sometimes leading to exploitation and abuse.
“In our culture, children are seen as a source of labour, especially in rural areas where they are deployed to farms and household tasks. Sometimes, we tend to follow cultural norms rather than the law, and this results in the violation of their rights,” Gbwefi noted.
However, he emphasized that while it is essential to adopt global best practices in labour rights, the law should also align with cultural values to ensure that Nigeria’s traditions are not eroded.
“There is no better time than now to set the record straight. We must embrace international labor standards that makes who we are,” he added.
STAR Check: Nigerians, particularly, constituents of Egbeda/Ona-Ara Federal Constituency of Oyo State, can keep tabs on the legislative performance of Rep. Alabi throughout the 10th House here
