Nigeria is the latest African country to ratify ILO Convention 190 which aims to eliminate violence and harassment in the world of work. The ratification comes after sustained campaigns and concerted efforts, including social dialogue involving trade unions, civil society organizations and labour support organizations.
On 30 September, the Federal Government of Nigeria announced that President Muhammadu Buhari had signed the instruments of ratification, and that the government is committed to strengthening laws to curb gender-based violence and harassment (GBVH) at work.
A report by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), to which some IndustriALL Global Union affiliates belong, and the Solidarity Centre, stated that GBVH happens at most workplaces and is underreported because of stigma and other social norms. It is worsened by poor enforcement of laws and weak implementation of workplace policies.
According to the report, this creates an environment where discriminatory gender norms are entrenched as evidenced by groping and sexual harassment by supervisors, which is common at workplaces – often making women workers dread going to work.
credit: IndustriALL
