The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, has restated its commitment to the welfare of dock workers, urging employers to ensure better working conditions for this category of maritime stakeholders.
Speaking at a meeting of the National Joint Industrial Council, NJIC, in Lagos, the group’s Chairman, Mr. Gambo Ahmed, urged the operators to bear in mind that the welfare of the dock workers will impact a lot on the ports industry and, in turn, the entire economy, hence the need to ensure that they are properly catered for.
Gambo, who is also the Executive Director, Maritime Labour and Cabotage Services at NIMASA, stressed the need for constant engagement to ensure that the dock workers’ get better living conditions in line with International Labour laws.
“When the welfare of the dockworkers is put into proper perspective, we have a healthy maritime sector, thereby leading to the actualisation of a robust economy,” he said.
Similarly, Director, Maritime Labour Services, NIMASA, Mr. Ibrahim Jibril, corroborated Gambo’s stance, saying it was in line with the theme of the 107th international conference held in Geneva, which is “A future with decent work and also building a future for the dock labour industry”.
The chairman, Ports Consultative Council, PCC, Otunba Kunle Folarin, who represented the Seaports Terminal Operators Association of Nigeria, STOAN, commended NIMASA for its role in maintaining existing peace in the ports industry.
