WORKERS RIGHT WITH REGARDS TO WORKING TIME!!

You will agree with me that the working time an employee uses in his/her place of work per week/month must be reasonable in order to hasten efficiency and productivity.

It is disheartening to note that, most times few private establishments today, negate/violates the set law as to hours of work an employee is expected to work per day or in a week or per month as enshrined in our laws.

Thus, the need for you to be guided.

The International Labour Organisation has enacted some Labour Standards that serves as minimum standards to be adopted by member state and of which Nigeria is a member.  The Fourty-Hour week Convention, 1935 (No. 47) and Reduction of Hours of Work Recommendation, 1962(No.116) of International Labour Organization was able to set the standard of 40hours work a week. It is important to state Nigeria has ratified this convention. Simlarly, the Weekly-Rest (Industry) Convention, 1921(No.14) and Weekly Rest (Commerce and Offices) Convention, 1957(No. 106) of ILO set the general standard that workers shall enjoy a rest period of at least 24 consecutive hours every 7 days.

However, under the Nigeria legal system, there exist similar provisions with regards to working time of workers.

The Nigeria labour law provides that if a worker is at work for more than 6 hours a day, he/she must be given at least 1 hour of rest-interval on that day.
The Nigerian Labour Act also provides that in every period of 7 days, a worker is entitled to at least 1 day of rest and it further provides that it must not be less than 24 consecutive hours, which is similar to the ILO Convention on Weekly Rest.

The Nigeria Labour Act provides that it is only in extraordinary  circumstances that workers may perform work on weekly rest days and public holidays. It is important to state that under this circumstance, the said worker is entitled to a day off within fourteen days in lieu of work done or a monetary compensation according to overtime rates.

Thus, it is expected that the standard should be complied, as it is expected that this should be the minimum standard obtainable in every working environment. Hence, anything short of this, is a denial of workers right as to working time.

Thanks for your time! Do have a great week!

*Rufus* *Adeoluwa* *Olodude*, *Esq*.
PP Achieversworld & Partners
& Editor-in-Chief, Oga Lawyer Network