Salary: Domestic workers to be covered in new minimum wage law

The President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has announced that domestic workers, including maids and gatekeepers, will be covered under the new salary structure involving the minimum wage.

It could be recalled that President Bola Tinubu had proposed a new salary structure of N70,000 minimum wage.

The proposal was swiftly approved by both the Senate and House of Representatives shortly after he sent the bill to the National Assembly.

Senator Akpabio clarified that the recently approved minimum wage of N70,000 applies universally to all workers in the country.

He made the announcement amid ongoing discussions on the new salary structure during plenary on Wednesday.

According to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, the new minimum wage will have far-reaching benefits.

It will be extended to all workers, regardless of sector or position, including those in the private and public sectors.

“This includes domestic workers such as maids and gate men as well,” he said.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio emphasized that the new wage of N70,000 is a universal benchmark.

He stated: “Whether you’re a business owner, such as a tailor hiring extra help, or a private individual, like a new mother employing a housemaid, you cannot pay anyone (salary) less than the minimum wage.

“It is a standard that applies to everyone and is not a maximum limit.”

All categories of workers

Akpabio further clarified that the minimum wage applies to all categories of workers.

He reiterated that drivers, security guards, gate men, and other domestic staff are also entitled to earn nothing less than the new minimum wage of N70,000 as salary.

“If you hire a driver or gateman, you cannot pay them below N70,000.

“So, I’m very delighted that this has been passed.

“We now look forward to employers of labour improving on what has been set as a benchmark for all to follow.

“I congratulate the Nigeria Labour Congress, all Nigerians, and the National Assembly for this epoch-making legislation.

“[It] has even reduced the term of negotiations from five years to three years in view of the increasing cost of living.

“This is, again, a landmark legislation, so congratulations.”

DDM had previously reported that, after negotiations with organized labor, the Nigerian government gave its approval for a new minimum wage of N70,000.

It marked a significant development in the ongoing efforts to improve workers’ compensation.

Although initially pushing for a minimum wage of N250,000, the NLC, Trade Union Congress (TUC), and their affiliates ultimately reached a compromise with the government, agreeing to a N70,000 minimum wage.

This, according to reports, resolved the prolonged salary dispute.

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