ILC celebrates World’s Decent Work Day Today

October 7 is known every year for the world to celebrate Decent Work Day. It is a day set aside by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) to reappraise programs that will provide comfort, respect and dignity at the work place.

World’s Decent Work Day is based on the understanding that work is a source of personal dignity, family stability, peace in the community, democracies that deliver for peoples and economic growth that expands opportunities for productive jobs and enterprise development. Therefore, it calls for celebration.

The President General of Trade Union Congress, Comrade Peter Esele stated that, “This concept has forged an international consensus among governments, employers, workers and civil society that productive employment and decent work are key elements to achieving a fair globalization, reducing poverty and achieving equitable, inclusive and sustainable development. Nevertheless, as much as the world-over strive to achieve a certain equilibrium in decent work, it has to a large extent remains a mirage in Nigeria.

It is more worrisome to know that decent living and working conditions still remain out of reach for large numbers of people which is visible in: the limited availability of credit for working capital, trade finance and viable investments in the real economy, the credit crunch, cautious spending decisions, leading to lower output, employment and prices, in turn affecting confidence among consumers and investors, the vicious cycle of depression and international trade and investment linkages and remittance flows.

In a bid to offer positive approach, Esele added that it is high time for the nation to make a policy shift from the ideal of present economic scenario and dependent on white collar jobs with attendant risks which has not taken the country anywhere and begin to evolve new approach that would be suitable to the environment and climate. Green jobs therefore need to be the decent work for appraisal.