The Senate in Tuesday’s plenary, resolved to amend the Labour Act, which it described as obsolete by reviewing the fines upward.
A bill sponsored by Sen. Ezenwa Onyewuchi ( Imo East) is seeking an upward review of the fines for neglect or ill-treatment of workers by employers from N500 to N500,000. in line with current realities.
The amendment also seeks the upward review of N200 to N200,000 for employers who deny maternity protection for female workers and employment of women in underground work or mines.while employment of young persons in unreasonable circumstances will now attract N200,000 from N 100 currently in place.
Onyewuchi told the House that the amendment was neccessary as the sanction, penalty and interest payable under the act are low and do not reflect current economic realities.
According to him, the current provisions cannot provide the needed protection for workers in the labour market arguing that there is a need to review the penalties upwards to achieve fair and harmonious employer- employee relations.
