Labour holds awareness rally against abuses of African migrant workers

THE Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the National Trade Union Network on Migration, will today hold a rally to protest the violation of African migrant workers’ rights in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states.

According to a statement by the Chairperson NLC, FCT Council, Com. Abubakar Yakubu and the NLC desk officer on Migration,Com. Eustace James, the rally will create awareness on the protection of the human and labour rights of migrant workers and their families.

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According to the statement the rally is part of activities to mark the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Centenary and call for Decent Work

“The rally is to draw attention to the inhuman treatment of Nigerian and other African migrants in the GCC States. The focus of the rally will be campaign against maltreatment and abuses of Nigerian and other African labour migrants to the GCC States, and Protection of Migrant Workers Human and Workers’ Rights,” the statement said

The rally trail will visit the Embassy of the United Arab Emirate (UEA) at Central Business District, Abuja.

Also, the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC-Africa) an umbrella body of African Trade Unions said the first phase of the campaign to end the abuse of rights of migrant workers will simultaneously take place in ten African countries.

A statement from the ITUC-AFRICA office said, “Reports reaching us suggest that about 10 African countries have been identified as part of the first phase of the public campaigns to demand for the reform of the Kafala sponsorship system and the erection of guarantees for the protection of the human and labour rights of African migrants.”

“Countries like Saudi Arabia and the UAE have continued to undermine the human and labour rights of African migrants.”

To push for the improvement of migration governance, the  organisation said it will through its network, “African Trade Union Migration Network (ATUMNET) stage peaceful rallies targeting the embassies of these gulf countries in Africa to convey their demands for reform of the Kafala sponsorship system and the better protection of the human and labour rights of African migrants.

“Already, the rally has successfully taken place in Senegal. Nigeria will stage her rally on the 11th of June 2019” the statement added.