HuCaPAN, Labour Ministry Agrees to Strengthen Partnership on Labour Migration, Decent Work

By Jide Afolabi

The umbrella body of Private Employment Agencies in Nigeria, the Human Capital Providers Association of Nigeria (HuCaPAN) and the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment has agreed to strengthen partnership on labour migration and promote decent work in Nigeria.

The two parties agreed to use the National Electronic Labour Exchange (NELEX) platform, an initiative of the Federal Government to provide decent jobs for Nigerians especially, the youths with a view to reduce unemployment in the country.

This was what formed basis for discussion during the visit of the Director, Employment and Wages, Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Mr. John Nyamali and his team to the Secretariat of the Human Capital Providers Association of Nigeria (HuCaPAN) located at the Central Business District, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos.

During the visit, Nyamali said that the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment in conjunction with other stakeholders like the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Federal Ministry of Justice, Nigeria Immigration Service, National Agency for the Prohibition of Traffic in Persons and Other Related Matters (NAPTIP), and Nigeria in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) among others are working on a Standard Operating Procedure that will regulate activities around labour migration in Nigeria.

He added that the National Labour Advisory Council has approved the memo on International Labour Convention (ILO) C181 – Private Employment Agencies Convention, 1997 (No. 181) and Convention 143 – Migrant Workers adding that it was the first step towards ratification and domestication of the Conventions.

In his address, the President of Human Capital Providers Association of Nigeria (HuCaPAN), Mr. Remi Adegboyega appreciated the Director for the support to the Association while highlighting the pivotal roles that the Ministry plays in the industry.

He thanked the Honourable Minister, Sen. Dr. Chris Nwabueze Ngige and the Minister of State, Festus Keyamo (SAN) for their support. He also appreciated the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Yerima Peter Tarfar, for the warm reception HuCaPAN received during the visit to his office and to all officials of the Ministry for their support to HuCaPAN.

Adegboyega said that HuCaPAN was ready to strengthen the partnership between the Association and the Ministry of Labour and Employment on the working conditions of its members, labour migration and decent work in Nigeria.

He said that as a responsible Association, HuCaPAN will continue to be true to its objective which is to operate and promote standards/ethical practices in recruitment, deployment and management of outsourced personnel among Service Providers in Nigeria.

The HuCaPAN team that received the visitor’s was led by the President, Mr. Remi Adegboyega. He was joined by other members of the Executive Committee including the immediate past President and Ex-Officio, Mr. Neye Enemigin, 1st Vice President, Mrs. Roselyn Onalaja, the Treasurer, Dr. Femi Ogunlowo, the Publicity Secretary, Otunba Tunji Balogun and the Executive Secretary, Mr. Olajide Afolabi. In attendance from the Ministry was Ms. Patience, a Labour Officer with the Ministry.

Human Capital Providers Association of Nigeria (HuCaPAN) is the umbrella organisation of registered/licenced recruiters (local and international) in Nigeria, also referred to as Private Employment Agencies (PEAs). The aims and objectives of the Association, among others, are to develop and promote International Labour Organisation (ILO) Standards and ethical practices in recruitment, deployment and management of outsourced personnel in Nigeria.