Oritsegbubemi Omatseyin
Lagos — Princess Vicky Haastrup, Chairman of the Seaport Terminal Operators Association of Nigeria, STOAN, has appealed to the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, to use the 0.5% stevedoring levy remitted by terminal operators for the training of dockworkers.
Haastrup emphasised that the levy is specifically designated for dockworkers training but expressed disappointment that NIMASA has not utilised the funds for this purpose, despite the significant resources available. She called on the agency to fulfil its responsibility and invest in the training of dockworkers.
Speaking at the 2024 Dockworkers Day celebration organised by the Shipping Correspondents Association of Nigeria, SCAN, and the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, MWUN, in Lagos, Princess Haastrup also said that the Federal Government’s port concession programme has been a transformative game-changer for dockworkers, as it has led to improved working conditions and safety standards, enhanced productivity and efficiency, increased job security and better remuneration.
“These positive impacts have significantly improved the livelihoods of dockworkers, enabling them to better support their families and communities,” she said.
She added that STOAN, MWUN and NIMASA have collaborated to enhance dockworkers welfare through the regular signing of Collective Bargaining Agreements, CBAs, which have ensured fair treatment, payment of living wages, and retirement benefits to dockworkers in the country.
She said: “Today, dockworkers have comprehensive and robust conditions of service, which include health insurance, life insurance, pension, gratuity, and bonuses. This is a monumental improvement over what obtained in the pre-concession era. The industry’s collective efforts have institutionalised fair labour practices, recognising the vital role dockworkers play in the maritime sector.
“Every two years, STOAN and the MWUN, under the supervision of NIMASA, negotiate new CBAs, under the National Joint Industrial Council, NJIC. These trail-blazing agreements are life-changing, as they have significantly enhanced dockworkers’ welfare, ensuring fair treatment, living wages, and retirement benefits. Unlike the pre-concession era, dockworkers now enjoy formal conditions of service as the average dockworker’s take-home pay has increased substantially. The CBA has also fostered industrial harmony at the ports.”
She reiterated terminal operators’ commitment to the welfare of dockworkers, despite the prevailing economic challenges in the country.
She noted that dockworkers should be appreciated for supporting international trade and commerce, generating revenue for the government, and contributing to Nigeria’s economic development.
Also speaking, Mr. Ascanio Russo, the Managing Director of PTML Terminal, described dockworkers as the engine room of port operations.
He said in addition to prioritising their welfare, PTML has sent some of its dockworkers abroad for training, emphasising that the training of dockworkers will enable the ports function optimally and increase revenue generation to the government.
Chief Adebayo Sarumi, a former Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, charged NIMASA to set up a training school for dockworkers.
