All shipping companies operating in the nation’s seaports have agreed to pay a N200,000 minimum wage to Marítime Workers, LEADERSHIP has learnt.
LEADERSHIP reports that a shipping firm, Hull-Blyth Nigeria Limited, had initially refused to accept an N200,000 minimum wage agreement midwifed by the federal government between the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) and the Shipping, Shipping Agencies, Clearing and Forwarding Employers Association (SSACFEA).
The company had written to MWUN and stated that it is not a member of SSACFEA and, therefore, not covered by the minimum wage agreement.
But, speaking to journalists over the weekend, the outgoing president general of MWUN, Com. Adewale Adeyanju revealed that Messrs. Hull Blyth has agreed to pay the agreed N200,000 Minimum Wage.
According to Adeyanju, the shipping firm had written twice to the union leadership, saying there was a mutual understanding between the union and the company.
“The initial refusal of Messrs. Hull-Blyth Nigeria Limited has now been settled. The shipping company has changed its mind on its initial refusal and has agreed to pay the N200,000 Minimum Wage. They even wrote to us twice concerning their change of mind.
“A meeting was then called by the management of Messrs. Hull-Blyth Nigeria Limited and MWUN, where we all had a good understanding of the matter.
“It wasn’t that we couldn’t muscle with the shipping company if they had insisted on their refusal, but since it had rescinded its decision and agreed to be part of the N200,000 Minimum Wage agreement, there was no need for any issue anymore.
“As I am talking to you now, the implementation of that signed agreement is ongoing at the Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC).
The constitution of the implementation committee is happening at the NSC and we are very much on top of the matter,” Com. Adeyanju stated.
Adeyanju further stated that rallying workers for the rejection of the Port and Harbour Bill by the National Assembly was the most challenging period of his administration.
The MWUN PG said the bill had threatened workers and would have far-reaching, grave consequences on the security of the nation as it would cede harbour, jetty, and terminal operations to private hands.
He, however, credited the union’s collective effort and media support for its eventual rejection.
Comrade Adeyanju also identified the transformation of MWUN, particularly the reforms within the dockworker’s branch and the industrial peace in the maritime industry, as his most cherished achievements.
He also highlighted negotiations for improved welfare across all branches of the Union – Dockworkers, Shipping, Seafarers and Nigerian Ports Authority as key achievements.
He said, “When I came in eight years ago, I think the first thing I needed to do was to make sure that the office of Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria should not be called the headquarters of touts any longer. And you can see we have transformed.
“We started with the Dockworkers branch because there were no rules and standards at the time. But we’ve changed the narrative from the way they normally call us touts, and that is why we have the collective bargaining agreements.
“Even in shipping, we don’t have standards. What you have there was plan-by-plan negotiations. They can sit down with any employer and negotiate whatever amount they believe is for the workers in shipping.
“So when we came on board, we introduced what we call a state of emergency in shipping. Because the workers in shipping were not well-paid while the companies were making a hell of a lot of money by increasing their tariffs. But today, we now have what we call a minimum standard in shipping.
“The average worker take-home is N200,000. Unlike before, it was N20,000.
“The seafarers have their NJIC as well, both locally and globally. And we have had improvements in their wages.
“Then you talk of NPA. The salary and wages of the workers in NPA were not paid for almost 18 years. But now they’ve reviewed the salary of NPA. And as I’m talking to you now, they are about rounding up and reviewing the salary properly.
“So we’ve touched all the four branches.
And so far progress has been made in all the four branches.”
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