A law that would forbid employers from paying employees and pensioners late or not at all has cleared the House of Representatives on second reading. Employees will be eligible for interest on unpaid wages once the legislation is passed.Infomation Guide Nigeria
The proposed legislation would also outlaw the underpayment of employees and pensions.
A bill named “A Bill for an Act to Prohibit Late Payment, Non-Payment, and Underpayment of Workers’ Wages, Pensions, and Other Emoluments in Nigeria, and Prescribes Penalties for Violations” is being suggested as legislation to address this issue.
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The idea was put out by the Speaker of the House, Femi Gbajabiamila, in the Employees/Workman (Unpaid Wages Prohibition) Bill 2016 during the previous National Assembly. The 9th Assembly recalled the legislation to be reviewed. The first reading was approved by the House in July 2019.Jamb Result
Gbajabiamila, in the explanatory note, said, “This bill seeks to provide for the prohibition of late payment, non-payment and under payment of workers’ wages in Nigeria and prescribes penalties for violations and for other matters connected thereto.”
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The bill partly read, “Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any Act or in any other enactment or law, the provision of this Act shall apply to all matters pertaining to payment of wages, pension, benefits and other emoluments by employers to workers in Nigerian.
“Every employer of labour in Nigeria, whether private or public; and whether it is employing any worker on permanent or contract basis, must ensure that all payment of wages, salaries, pension and all benefits to workers are paid promptly without any delay weekly, fortnightly, monthly or quarterly as may be agreed by parties in the contract of employment of the individual employee.
“(1) An employer is prohibited from entering into any contract with any workman for any deduction from the sum contracted to be paid by the employer to the workman, or for any payment to the employer by the workman for or in respect of bad or negligent work or injury to the material or other property of the employer or in respect of any fine unless.
“(a) The terms of the contract contained in a notice kept constantly affixed at such place or places open to the workman and in such a position that it should be seen easily read and copied by any person whom it affects; or the contract is in writing signed by the workman.