Employers under the Shipping, Shipping Agencies, Clearing and Forwarding Employers Association (SACFEA) have approved a new minimum wage of N200,000 for their workers.
Boma Alabi (SAN), the Chairman of SACFEA, who announced this in Lagos on Friday, said the shipping industry’s minimum wage is three times the national minimum wage, and the highest in any industry in Nigeria.
“The most significant thing is that in setting a minimum standard for the shipping industry, we have gone above and beyond any other industry in Nigeria. The national minimum wage is N70,000 and we know what it took to get the federal government to get to that point. By virtue of the agreement we have signed today, our minimum wage is N200,000. It is almost triple the national minimum wage.
“While the workers were asking for N160,000, it is important to note that the employers went above to do N200,000 because they understand the situation in the country and want to ensure that everyone is happy. We don’t just want the workers to live, but to work and save for their future,” Alabi said in Lagos on Friday during the signing of a landmark agreement on minimum standards of condition of service for workers in the shipping industry.
The historic agreement, brokered by the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), was signed by SACFEA and the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN).
Alabi expressed optimism that the new agreement would support the growth of the nation’s marine and blue economy.
“With minimum standards, we would no longer have charlatans in the system. We are also looking at the developments in other parts of the world with a view to improving the practice in Nigeria. One of the challenges in the country is the cost of doing business. This development will enable us reduce the cost of doing business and compete favorably,” she said.
The agreement signing ceremony was witnessed by the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola.
Also speaking, Comrade Adewale Adeyanju, MWUN President-General, said the minimum standards of condition of service for workers in the shipping industry will be reviewed biennially.
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