A Professor of Industrial Sociology and Employment Relations at the University of Ibadan, Professor Emeka Emmanuel Okafor has proposed a multi-stakeholder approach to address non-standard employment in Nigeria.
This, he said, would involve the government, ministries, employers, trade unions, higher institutions, and NGOs.
He emphasized the need for a comprehensive analysis to reduce the plight of non-standard workers and ensure a just, fair, and equitable society.
Professor Okafor made the recommendations while delivering the 562nd Inaugural Lecture of the University of Ibadan on behalf of the Faculty of the Social Sciences.
The lecture was entitled “The Periphery of the Periphery: Exploring the Experiences of Non-standard Workers”
Professor Okafor noted that the phenomenon of non-standard work is not unique to Nigeria.
“It is a global issue and goes by different names or appellations which may include; part-time workers, outsourced workers, temporary workers, on-call workers, ad-hoc workers, contract workers, undocumented workers, seasonal workers, flexible workers, continent workers and so on”, he submitted.
He explained further that non-standard work poses numerous challenges to these workers, including but not limited to low wages, limited benefits, lack of union representation, and job insecurity.
The lecturer further noted that in every society, the prevalence of the nature and quality of available work reflect its socio-economic and political arrangements.
He noted that what exists in capitalist societies is driven by profit maximisation, where employers seek to minimise labour costs while maximising profits.
He stated that such drive often leads to the proliferation of non-standard arrangements such as contract work, casual work, part-time work, and flexible work prevalent in developing countries like Nigeria.
In addressing non-standard employment, the Don called on the government to be critical in playing its crucial role in setting labour standards, protecting workers’ rights, and ensuring decent work.
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Professor Okafor identified government roles to include regulating non-standard workers, combating youth unemployment, establishing national social protection systems, and strengthening labour inspection.
He called on other stakeholders, including the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, private employers, trade unions, higher institutions, as well as non-governmental organisations to get fully involved.
He charged all stakeholders to mobilise and implement collaborative strategies to achieve decent work and dignity for all workers, regardless of employment status.
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