Compensation For Workers Who Become COVID-19 Victims Is Compulsory – NLC

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has come out to say that the Federal Government should recognize COVID-19 as a workplace disease.

Mr Ayuba Wabba, the NLC President, recently revealed this in a statement commemorating the 2021 International Workers Memorial Workers’ Day, with the theme “Save Lives at Work”, in Abuja.

According to him, the deadly virus should be treated like a notifiable and compensable occupational hazard because that is the reality of things at the moment.

He added that the contribution of frontline workers especially healthcare workers is a formidable buffer between deaths in thousands and deaths in millions, so they surely deserve compensation.

His words, ”The contribution of frontline workers especially healthcare workers is a formidable buffer between deaths in thousands and deaths in millions.”

”Every day, our healthcare workers courageously dare the stare of death in selfless service to rescue the lives of others.”

”The listing of occupational health and safety as a fundamental right at work and the recognition of COVID-19 as a workplace disease and as a notifiable and compensable occupational hazard.”

”The provision of training and capacity building for trade unions to deal with Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) issues and push for reforms in the Factories Act particularly in relation to enforcement and penalties.”

”Demand for compensation of COVID-19 victims in the Workplace; adequate and Quality Personal Protection Equipment (PPEs) for workers at the workplace.”

”The payment of health hazards to health workers and other frontline workers battling the COVID-19 pandemic and reinforcement of workplace observation of COVID-19 protocols.”

”There is no better day to demonstrate our readiness to fight for the living than today.”

”We will fight for the living by highlighting the preventable nature of most workplace incidents and ill-health, to promote campaigns and union organisation in the fight for improvements in occupational safety and health in our different workplaces.”