The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has partnered with the Trade Union Congress (TUC) of Ghana to strengthen efforts towards promoting fair, orderly, and regular labour migration.
Mr Joe Ajaero, President of the NLC, disclosed this at the opening of a peer learning meeting of trade union organisations in the Ghana-Nigeria migration corridor, held on Monday in Abuja.
Ajaero stated that the NLC aligns with the International Labour Organisation’s (ILO) vision of developing collective strategies to promote fair migration with the support of social partners.
He explained that the meeting aimed to identify concrete steps for enhancing labour migration within the corridor.
“This engagement will provide opportunities to better understand the migration space and help harness the great potential and benefits of fair migration.
“It will contribute immensely to our struggle for decent work for all, including migrant workers,” Ajaero said.
He emphasised that the NLC’s involvement in migration governance is geared towards improving the role of trade unions in labour migration processes, particularly through a rights-based approach.
“The goal is to strengthen the institutional capacities of trade unions, train relevant stakeholders, and better integrate migrant workers into union structures.”
Mr Joshua Ansah, Secretary-General of TUC Ghana, underscored the importance of the meeting as a platform for experience-sharing and strengthening collective efforts to address challenges faced by migrant workers.
Represented by Mr Michael Angmor, General Secretary of the National Union of Seamen, Ports, and Allied Workers (NUSPAW), an affiliate of TUC Ghana, Ansah called for greater collaboration.
He urged joint efforts to advocate for policies that protect workers’ rights and welfare, stressing the importance of promoting decent work environments, fair wages, and social protection for all workers.
“These policies should benefit workers regardless of nationality, ensuring fairness and equality in the workplace,” he added.
Ms Inviolata Chinyagarara, Senior Workers’ Specialist at the ILO, noted that the partnership between the NLC and TUC Ghana on labour migration was long overdue.
She described the collaboration as a significant milestone in advancing the rights of migrant workers.
Chinyagarara also reiterated the ILO’s commitment to supporting workers’ organisations through initiatives such as the Integrated Programme on Fair Recruitment Phase 3 (FAIR III), which aims to promote fair recruitment practices across key migration corridors.
She emphasised the urgency of enhancing collaboration and implementing structured interventions to address challenges faced by migrant workers, ranging from recruitment and employment to return and reintegration.
