FG, Private Employment Agencies Partners on Labour Migration

By Our Reporter

The Federal Government and the umbrella organisation of the Private Employment Agencies in Nigeria, the Human Capital Providers Association of Nigeria (HuCaPAN) have agreed to partner to promote safe, orderly, and regular labour migration in Nigeria.

This was disclosed during a courtesy visit to the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment by the leadership of the Association. The team, which was led by HuCaPAN President, Dr Olufemi Ogunlowo was received by the Permanent Secretary, Ms Kahollom Permanent Daju, mni, and other top officials of the Ministry.

Ogunlowo in his speech expressed optimism that the current efforts by the Association and the Ministry would yield positive results which would lead to a safe, orderly and regular labour migration in Nigeria.

He said, “As you are aware, the Federal government has suspended international recruitment; issuance and renewal of international recruitment licenses since 2018. After a series of meetings and follow-ups with the Ministry, Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for Private Employment Agencies in Nigeria was drafted and launched recently. Following the launch, our Association organised Webinar for Private Employment Agencies in Nigeria on the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP). It was thereafter that the Ministry requested international recruiters to renew their licence. We are confident that the speedy process of renewal applications by our members would help to promote regular labour migration in Nigeria.”

Ogunlowo who was represented by the Executive Secretary, Mr Jide Afolabi noted that the Standard Operating Procedure which was drafted by the government with critical stakeholders’ input when deployed would help in no small measures help in containing activities of human traffickers and unlicensed agencies.

The Private Employment Agencies added that it would continue to campaign against labour casualisation at home and abroad. “We will continue to campaign against casualisation as we believe that it is against the principle of decent work. We are being guided by our Constitution and the Code of Conduct for Private Employment Agencies in Nigeria which was reviewed in 2021 with technical support from the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, the International Labour Organisation, and the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) and other Social Partners. To further decent work agenda in Nigeria, we shall be true to our mantra – “anywhere a Nigerian is found working; he/she must have a decent work.”

In her response, the Permanent Secretary, Ms Kachollom appreciated the good work being done by the Association towards promoting decent jobs for Nigerians. She said that the interest of the government is to ensure that those seeking jobs overseas do so in a decent way without posing any threat to themselves and the government. She said that the government is concerned about the welfare of all Nigerians both at home and abroad.

“This is the reason the Ministry with other relevant agencies and stakeholders have come up with the Standard Operating Procedure so that Private Employment Agencies will operate within the confines of the policies and internationally acceptable standards.” She added.

She stressed that the proposed Private Employment Agencies Chief Executives Conference will be used to expatiate on the rudiments of the procedure and roles of various stakeholders in the labour migration governance and management in Nigeria.

Other dignitaries at the meeting included the Director, Employment and Wages, Mr John Nyamali, the Chief Executive Officers of Winston Worldwide Heritage Ltd and Bright Global Services & Recruitment Company Ltd, Mr Winston Kolade Ahmed and Mrs Alimot Tejumade among others.