Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2013, published 103rd ILC session (2014)

Dock Work Convention, 1973 (No. 137) - Nigeria (Ratification: 2004)

Article 1(2) of the Convention. Definition of “dockworkers” and “dock work”. In its previous comments, the Committee noted that the Government planned to convene a tripartite meeting with a view to redefine the terms “dockworkers” and “dock work” in light of new methods of cargo handling and their effect on the various dock work occupations. The Committee refers to its 2009 direct request and invites the Government to indicate if any arrangements were made in consultation with the social partners to revise the definition of the terms “dockworkers” and “dock work”.

Articles 2 and 4(2). Encouragement to provide permanent or regular employment, minimum periods of employment and minimisation of detrimental effects. The Committee notes the information provided by the Government in June 2013 indicating that the terminal operators have the responsibility of employment and disengagement of dockworkers, while the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) regulates the conditions of work. The Government indicates that some of the terminal operators employ dockworkers on a permanent basis while others outsource from the NIMASA’s licensed stevedores for regular engagement. In the event of any reduction in the strength of the dockworkers register, the workers’ union and the terminal operators are required to negotiate the payment of terminal benefits for the disengaged dockworkers. The Committee invites the Government to provide information in its next report on the number of dockworkers for which permanent or regular employment is assured (Part V of the report form).

Article 6. Safety, health, welfare and training provisions. In reply to the 2009 direct request, the Government indicates that NIMASA trains dockworkers on modern cargo handling techniques. Minimum manning scale for all kinds of cargo operation negotiated between employers and unions are witnessed by NIMASA. The Government also states that grouping workers into different shifts excuses workers from being placed on consecutive shifts. The Committee invites the Government to continue to provide particulars of the safety, health, welfare and vocational training provisions applying to dockworkers. It invites again the Government to provide in its next report an extract from the annual NIMASA report or any other reports from the Federal Ministry of Labour or the Federal Ministry of Transport related to the practical application of the Convention (Part V of the report form).