Kenney’s $15 minimum wage bill advances
Mayor Jim Kenney’s push to raise the minimum wage for city-contracted workers to $15 an hour moved one step forward on Tuesday with a unanimous City Council committee vote in support of the incremental pay raise. The legislation would increase the minimum wage for city workers and employees of city contractors and subcontractors over the next four years, hitting $15 an hour in 2022. It comes four years after the City of Philadelphia first mandated a $12-an-hour minimum wage for city workers, contractors, and subcontractors.
Source: WHYY
Qatar enacts employee insurance law
Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) in Qatar will be entitled to employment insurance under a new law passed by that country, the labour department said.
The Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) said Thursday that Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III received a report from DoLE International Labor Affairs Bureau (ILAB) Director Alice Q. Visperas “about the issuance of the worker’s support and insurance fund law by Qatar’s highest official, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.”
Law No.17 series of 2018 was issued on Oct. 29 establishing a “Worker’s Support and Insurance Fund” for private-sector and domestic workers.
Source: Business World
National Minimum Wage and peculiarities of the localities
A few weeks ago, the organised labour announced its decision to call out workers on a nationwide strike to press home the need for an increase in the national minimum wage which as at today is fixed at N18000 under Section 1 of the National Minimum Wage Act Cap. N61 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria,2004 (As Amended).
Source: Vanguard
Changes to Singapore’s Employment Act set to take effect from 1 April 2019
Singapore’s Employment (Amendment) Bill 2018 has been passed in Parliament on 20 November 2018, with changes to the Employment Act (EA) and Employment Claims Act (ECA) to take effect from 1 April 2019.It was read for the second time by Minister for Manpower Josephine Teo in Parliament on Tuesday (20 November), following its introduction in October.
Source: Human Resources
Ontario government passes new labour laws, rolls back many Liberal reforms
The Ontario government passed sweeping labour reform legislation Wednesday, effectively rolling back many changes brought in by the previous Liberal regime. The law freezes the province’s minimum wage at $14 an hour until 2020 and cuts two paid personal leave days for workers, among other things. The governing Progressive Conservatives said the legislation would encourage job growth in the province. They have said the changes made by their predecessors imposed significant costs on businesses and argued the new legislation would ease that burden.
Source: Global News
ASUU and the New Minimum Wage
After a long drawn battle, the organised labour suspended its proposed mass action over the demand for an N30000 minimum wage as President Muhammadu Buhari warmly received the report of the Tripartite Committee of the National Minimum Wage. Even if the Federal Government accepted the offer as assumed, it has to follow due process particularly legislative actions to become effective. Obviously, Nigerian workers deserve an improved package far above the existing N18000. Whilst the heat was temporarily put under control, the Academic Staff Union of Universities grounded academic activities by embarking on a strike action. All clamouring for one thing: improved workers’ welfare.
Source: Punch
Hancock considering $15 an hour Minimum Wage for Denver employees
Mayor Michael Hancock is considering an increase of the minimum wage to $15 an hour to be phased in over several years for Denver employees and those who work for businesses that operate in city facilities.
The mayor’s office said Tuesday the total comes to about 1,900 people.
Source: Fox 31 Denver
Sanders to introduce a bill to force Walmart to pay $15 minimum wage
Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., will introduce legislation Thursday with Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., intended to force Walmart to pay workers at least $15 an hour. The bill would institute fines for corporations that buy back their own stock unless they set their workers’ base pay at that level. “Last year, 4 members of the Walton family of Walmart made $12.7 billion in 1 day. It would take a full-time Walmart worker making $11/hr over 653,000 years to make that much.
Source: Washington Examiner
St. Paul City Council passes $15 minimum wage, and mayor signs it
Minnesota’s second-largest city has joined the growing wave of cities across the country that have decided to require that workers be paid a minimum of $15 an hour. The St. Paul City Council followed their counterparts in Minneapolis on Wednesday and approved the citywide $15 minimum wage, which will be completely phased in by July 2027. Mayor Melvin Carter signed it into law a short time later. The Minneapolis City Council passed a $15 minimum wage ordinance in 2017 after years of pressure from labour activists. At the time, those activists said St. Paul was their next target — and the ordinance meets many of their demands.
Source: Star Tribune
Minimum wage: Court gives FG, labour till Jan 30 to submit a report on negotiations
The National Industrial Court of Nigeria, in Abuja, has ordered to submit a report of the negotiations on the disputes over the new Minimum Wages to both the Federal Government and the organised Labour by January 30, 2019.Justice Sanusi Kado had on November 2, 2018, adjourned the case till Thursday after issuing an ex parte order stopping the strike which the labour had planned to commence on November 6.The strike was however averted after an agreement was reached on November 5 between the labour and the Federal Government with N30,000 recommended to President Muhammadu Buhari as the new minimum wage regime. At the resumed hearing in the case on Thursday, the three defendants – the National Labour Congress, the Trade Union Congress and the Nigerian Governors’ Forum – were absent and were also not represented by any lawyer.
Source: Punch
State Sen. Reggie Thomas pre-files minimum wage bill
State Sen. Reggie Thomas has pre-filed a bill to raise Kentucky’s minimum wage to $15 an hour. Thomas, a Democrat from Lexington, pre-filed Bill Request 302 Tuesday. The bill calls for gradually raising the minimum wage over the next seven years. Wages would be raised to $15 an hour by July 2026.Sen. Thomas noted Arkansas just enacted a $12 minimum wage. He said if Arkansas can do it, it’s time for Kentucky to do the same. “We need to make sure that everyone has a liveable wage,” Thomas said
Source: WKYT
Most employers now consider temp staff for full-time roles
Nine in 10 employers in Australia are open to hiring a candidate with continuous temporary or contract work experience for a permanent role, a survey from HR consulting firm Robert Half Australia revealed. The majority of hiring managers purportedly view the impact of temporary work positively and are actively welcoming contract workers into the fold with full-time, permanent positions. In fact, 88% would offer a permanent post to a skilled worker who was first enlisted as a temp.
Source: HRD Australia
New Rules for Non Competition Agreements in Massachusetts
On October 1, 2018, the Massachusetts Noncompetition Agreement Act (the “Act”) came into effect, creating several new requirements for noncompetition agreements between employers and service providers based in Massachusetts. The new law does not impact agreements entered into before October 1; however, going forward, employers should evaluate when to seek a noncompetition agreement from a service provider and should update any form agreements to comply with the Act’s requirements. In this post, we highlight five considerations to help guide employers as they revisit their practices for Massachusetts workers.
Source: National Law Review
Voter opinions strong, studies mixed on effects of a higher minimum wage
During debates in Montpelier over whether to hike the minimum wage, people living along the New Hampshire border are often invoked as the residents who would be hit the hardest, with opponents warning that businesses would quickly move across the Connecticut River, where the federal minimum wage of $7.25 is in effect.But for voters along the border — just like their representatives in the Statehouse, who are expected to take up a minimum wage bill again this coming session — opinions were mixed Tuesday on whether the minimum wage would boost livelihoods or bankrupt businesses.
Source: VTDIGGER
Michigan lawmakers consider changes to sick time, minimum wage laws
The Michigan legislature is considering changes to two new laws on sick time and minimum wage. In September, the Republican-led legislature adopted the measures instead of letting them go to the ballot. Doing so meant they could come back and amend them with a simple majority, instead of the two-thirds vote it would have taken to make changes passed at the ballot box. Senate Majority Leader Arlan Meekhof, R-West Olive, said changes to the proposals would focus on “making it more acceptable to the business community so we continue to keep our economy on track.”
Source: Michigan Live
We can have a downward review of minimum wage
Recently, the Nigerian Labour Congress returned to the trenches threatening strike action. Its leadership says governments drag their feet over an agreement to increase the minimum wage for workers. A reader may notice that I use ‘increase’ not ‘review’. It’s because, in Nigeria, labour leaders regard to review of the minimum wage as increase only. But a review can be to review downward, upward, or reach an agreement to let the status quo remain for certain reasons. When the NLC threatens strike action over wages these days, it seems it’s the only thing it thinks about regarding how to improve the living condition of workers. Is wage increasing the only way to improve workers’ condition? If labour unions fully have their thinking caps on, increase in minimum wage isn’t the only language they should be speaking from the 1940s till date. I will explain.
Source: Punch
Minimum Wage Hike Creates Mixed Feelings for Small Businesses
While some people say this is a good thing, small businesses like Sire Boutique in Springdale say this isn’t a quick fix.” Their cost on the product goes up which means our cost goes up,” said co-owner of Sire Boutique, Nate Robinson. Robinson said last night’s passage of the minimum wage increase is only putting a Band-Aid on a problem. The measure will boost hourly pay incrementally to $11 by 2021.”All of these expenses are going to be passed on to the small business owner, I started doing the math and the cost of every employee will go up to $5,500 a year,” Robinson said. While big businesses may not be affected as much, Robinson said his bottom line will have to adjust. “This is such a rapid increase. We’re going to see a 29% increase from 2019 to January 1 of 2021,” Robinson said.
Source: Kark.com
Buhari hasn’t endorsed any figure as minimum wage, Presidency insists
The Presidency on Thursday said President Muhammadu Buhari has yet to endorse any figure as the new national minimum wage. It said the reports that Buhari reneged on earlier acceptance of the N30000 recommended by the National Minimum Wage Tripartite Committee were therefore not correct. The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, made the clarification in a statement made available to journalists. He said what Buhari committed himself to was a new minimum wage only after the report of the committee has been reviewed by the executive and legislative processes of government and an appropriate bill presented to him for assent.
Source: Punch
Local Business Outlook: Minimum wage increase a balancing act
Issue 5 winning at the ballots will result in a quarter of the Arkansas workforce being given an incremental raise to $11 per hour. While it won’t be in full effect until 2021, Issue 5 will begin to face heavy examination and interpretation sooner rather than later.
Arkansas, one of the poorest states in the U.S., will increase the salaries of 25 per cent of Arkansas’ workforce, impacting an estimated 750,000 people who are currently employed and paid less than $11 per hour. Consider this: They will be receiving an increase in wages that will still bring that employee to just above what is considered a living wage (which in our area is $10.15 per hour, unless they have an unemployed spouse and/or any children, then $11 per hour in a household would still be below living wage threshold); and this is a comparison of the minimum wage in 2021 against TODAY’S living wage — not factoring the inevitable inflation that will occur between now and then.
Source: Times Record
Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina – changes and amendments to the Labour Law
On 9 November 2018, the Law on Changes and Amendments to the Labour Law of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (initially adopted in 2016) was published in the Official Gazette of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, entering into force eight days after publishing.
Source: Wolf Theiss
New Bernie Sanders legislation would require $15 Minimum Wage, or no stock buybacks — includes part-timers and contractors
Khanna (D-Calif.) introduced a bill that would prohibit employers with more than 500 employees from buying back stock unless they pay all employees at least $15 an hour — including part-time employees, independent contractors and franchise employees. The proposed legislation was named the “Stop Walmart Act.” It would also allow employees to earn up to seven days of paid sick leave to be used to care for themselves or a family member and require that CEO compensation, or the highest-paid employee, is not more than 150 times the median pay of all employees. Employers who violate the act would be subject to civil fines in the amount of each illegal stock buyback and executive officers will be barred from serving in these roles. Sanders previously targeted Amazon over its pay before the online retail giant on Nov. 1 increased its minimum wage to $15 for all employees across the US.
Source: Staffing Industry Analysts
A Minimum salary increase of 7 thousand-and not just details of a new controversial bill
Such innovations stipulated by the draft law, which was developed by the Cabinet, reports the Observer. The document says that now the minimum salary of the head shall not be less than 7400 UAH. Today in Ukraine almost 84 thousand chiefs receive a minimum benefit of $ 3700 USD and this is due, primarily, to the fact that firms try to conceal the real incomes, giving out wages in envelopes. New bill the Cabinet will try to rectify the situation in which the business continues to steal money from the budget. Now to evade the payment of ERUs will fail: if the head will reduce or be transferred to another post, then signed documentation will be nobody.
Source: The Koz Week
Minimum Wage: Buhari, Governors meet over proposed N30000
President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday met behind closed doors with representatives of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum over the disagreement between the organised labour and state governors on the proposed N30000 minimum wage. The News Agency of Nigeria had reported that the Amal People Tripartite Committee on the Review of National Minimum Wage, had on Nov. 6, submitted its report to Buhari where it recommended N30,000 as the new national minimum wage. While receiving the report, the president expressed his commitment to ensuring the implementation of a new national minimum wage and pledged to transmit an Executive bill (on National Minimum Wage) to the National Assembly for its passage within the shortest time possible.
Source: Punch
State Supreme Court Upholds ‘Right to Work’ Law
The Kentucky Supreme Court has upheld the state’s ‘Right to Work’ law. These laws ban labour unions from collecting mandatory dues from workers. Kentucky’s law went into effect in January 2017.Labour unions argued it violated the state’s constitutional ban on laws that unfairly target a specific group of people.
Source: Lex 18
Wage theft stripping almost $2.5 billion from Queensland economy each year, report finds
The report estimated over 437,000 Queensland workers were not receiving their full wages. Wage theft includes underpayment of wages, unpaid superannuation, withholding entitlements, and “sham contracting” or misclassifying employees as independent contractors to avoid employer responsibilities. Committee Chair Leanne Linard MP said the committee overwhelmingly heard wage theft was imposing significant costs on Queensland workers, their families, businesses and the economy.
Source: ABC News
Nigeria Can Pay Living Wage, Says Oshiomhole
National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Comrade Adams Oshiomhole said yesterday that Nigeria can afford a living wage for workers. He said non-payment of salaries by governors creates a vicious circle leading to low production and eventual loss of jobs. Oshiomhole said as a governor, he told his colleagues that payment of salaries was no burden, but a means of enhancing the development potential of the state, adding that the country’s major problem is stealing of public resources in the name or salary payment. The former Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) president spoke on a television programme.
Source: Sahara Reporters
Port to get $4.7m in State Funds for Rail, Dock Work
The Port of Morgan City is set to receive about $4.7 million from the state for work on the port’s railroad spur and dock. Port officials plan to spend another $1.1 million of the port’s own funds for the project.
Morgan City Harbour and Terminal District commissioners approved a resolution Tuesday authorizing the district to enter into an agreement with the state Department of Transportation and Development under the Louisiana Port Construction and Development Priority Program for railroad spur, dock and land improvements, Port Executive Director Raymond “Mac” Wade said.
Source: St Mary Now.com
Payment of workers’ salaries should not be considered the act of kindness – Oshiomhole
The national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has said that Nigeria can afford to pay wages and called on governors to do their duties. The Nation reports that the former governor said non-payment of salaries leads to low production. READ ALSO: We are in top gear to end Boko Haram – Buratai He said when he was governor, he reiterated to his colleagues that salaries were a means of enhancing the potential of the states. Oshiomhole, however, said one problem the country faced was the issue of money being stolen in the name of salaries. He said: “My views are clear, that payment of wages is not an act of kindness for an employer to pay the employees’ wages at the end of the month… Even the Holy Bible says that the labourer is entitled to its wages. “I think, again, this is where President Buhari stands out clearly. He has publicly asked public sector employers; how do you sleep when you have not paid your employers for one year. But he did not stop at lamenting it, he went on to provide the much-talked-about bailout fund and said, ‘please use this money to pay your workers and pay pension arrears.
Source: Legit
St. Paul passes $15 minimum wage
The St. Paul City Council voted to raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour by a unanimous vote. Mayor Melvin Carter, III signed the citywide ordinance into law Nov. 14 immediately after it passed. The measure will be phased in by 2025 for all businesses. “Today’s vote is the culmination of years of incredible leadership from council members, workers, business leaders and advocates, all working together to provide a much-needed raise to over 56,000 St. Paul workers,” said Mayor Carter. “I couldn’t be more honoured to sign this ordinance into law.”
Source: Spokesman
Women On Maternity Leave To Be Paid 50% Salary Of 14 Weeks: Center
Taking note of several reports which indicated a decrease in the recruitment of women workers owing to an increase in maternity leaves, the government has decided to pay 50 per cent of the salary of 14 weeks to women on maternity leave.
Earlier, under the Maternity Benefit Act, women were given paid leave for 12 weeks which was extended to 26 weeks after an amendment in March 2017. Taking off some monetary burden from the employers, the government decided to Dutch in by paying 50 per cent salary to women on maternity leave for the extended 14 weeks. According to Women and Child Development Ministry sources, an official level meeting was held on Wednesday with the Labour Ministry where it was proposed that the unutilised amount of cess will be used to reimburse the maternity benefit. As per the 28th report of the Standing Committee on Labour on “Cess funds and their utilization for workers’ welfare”, Rs32,632.95 crore has been collected as cess out of which Rs7,516.52 crore has been utilized as on March 31, 2017.
Source: NDTV
Workers running out of patience over new minimum wage –Labour
Barely two weeks after submitting a committee report on the new minimum wage to President Muhammadu Buhari, labour chiefs restated on Friday that workers were running out of patience with the government over the slow action on the issue. On November 5, Buhari received the report of a tripartite committee he set up since last November to fashion out a new minimum wage for workers. Nigerian workers have been voicing their frustrations over what they describe as the peanuts paid to public sector workers in a country where political office holders, including members of the parliament, receive some of the biggest pay checks in the world.
Source: Punch
4 healthcare organizations raising the minimum wage
Here are four healthcare organizations that have or plan to raise their minimum wage:
- Atrium increases the minimum wage, affecting more than 7,500 employees
Charlotte, N.C.-based Atrium Health increased the minimum wage for employees from $11.50 to $12.50 per hour. The change affects 7500 employees. - Novant Health bumps the minimum wage to $12.50
Winston-Salem, N.C.-based Novant Health raised its minimum wage in North Carolina from $11 per hour to $12.50 per hour. The change affects 5000 employees. - New Jersey health system lifts the minimum wage to $15
Camden, N.J.-based Cooper University Health Care will increase the minimum wage for full-time, part-time, and per-diem employees to $15 an hour, effective Jan. 1. About 10 per cent of Cooper’s 7,500 employees will benefit from the new minimum wage. - North Carolina hospital lifts the minimum wage to $12.50
Winston-Salem, N.C.-based Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center raised its minimum hourly wage from $11 to $12.50.
Source: Becker’s Hospital Review
How does the minimum wage increase the economy?
South Dakota will raise the minimum wage from $8.85 cents to $9.10 cents an hour. State officials say the minimum wage is annually adjusted by an increase in the cost of living, as measured in the Consumer Price Index published by the U.S. Department of Labor. This year’s increase was 2.7 per cent. We see large corporations doing this across the nation, in February Walmart raised its starting wage to $11, in March Target planned on rising to $12.and Amazon setting their rate at $15.
Source: Kota TV
Minimum wage: Govt can pay workers N100,000 – Tunde, ex-Styl Plus
Tunde Akinsanmi, ex-member of the popular music group, Styl Plus, has said the government can afford to pay workers N100,000 minimum wage if it musters the political will to do so.
He stated this on Thursday in a chat with DAILY POST in Abuja.
Recall that the Chairman of Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) and Governor of Zamfara state, Alhaji Abdulaziz Yari, had said the proposed N30,000 minimum wage would be paid if labour would agree to downsize of the workforce across the country.
Source: Daily Post
Atwoli accuses govt of plotting to amend labour laws
Atwoli warned that any attempt to amend the law will be met with stiff resistance from the Kenyan workers.
Speaking in Kirinyaga County during the funeral of Edward Muturi, brother to the chairperson of the Kenya plantation workers union said Labour Cabinet Secretary Ukur Yattani wanted to introduce amendments to remove workers representative from the board of NSSF.He also revealed that the cabinet secretary wanted to muzzle workers power to a nominated representative of NSSF and allow the minister to appoint his own cronies in the board, saying the workers will oppose it by all means.
Source: KBC
Government urged to align Labour Act to ‘business’ mantra
There is a need for critical review of the country’s Labour Act to align it with the “Zimbabwe is open for business” mantra, which is aimed at fostering economic development and achieving an upper middle-income economy by 2030.Institute of People Management of Zimbabwe (IPMZ) president Mrs Precious Nyika said this on Friday in a speech read on her behalf by the institute’s vice president Mr Philimon Chitagu at an annual labour briefing. Under President Mnangagwa, the country has adopted the “Zimbabwe is open for business” thrust with a view to attracting investment from across the globe through re-engagement with the rest of the world.
Source: Chronicle
Zimbabwe: Govt Law Denies Pay to Women Falling Pregnant Less Than a Year Into Job
ZIMBABWE’S working women who fall pregnant less than a year into their employment is not entitled to the mandatory 98 days of one going for maternity leave on full salary. This was said by Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi while responding to questions by Senators in the Upper House on Thursday. “Firstly, the Government of Zimbabwe does not have a policy of stopping people from getting pregnant,” said Minister Ziyambi.”You can be employed today and you fall pregnant tomorrow. It is your human right to do that. “Secondly, the Government then regulates to say that should you fall pregnant what should prevail in terms of maternity leave, which is exactly what the Honourable Member has indicated.
Source: All Africa
Business sector warily watches the effects of the minimum wage increase on prices, staffing
As the new year approaches, a cloud is hanging over many Missouri businesses.
In less than seven weeks, Missouri’s minimum wage will increase by 75 cents per hour. Earlier this month, 62 per cent of Missouri voters approved Missouri Proposition B, which asked voters to raise the state’s minimum wage to $12 per hour over the next five years.
On Jan. 1, Missouri’s minimum wage will increase from $7.85 per hour to $8.60 per hour. For the next four years, the state’s minimum wage will increase by 85 cents per hour until it hits $12 per hour in 2023.
Source: News Tribune
New minimum wage: Fayemi reveals a condition that will make governors pay N30,000
The Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, on Saturday said that the Federal Government needed to address the current revenue allocation formula, to enable state governments to pay the new minimum wage being requested by workers.
Fayemi spoke when he received the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Mr Ayuba Wabba, who paid him a courtesy visit in his office, in Ado-Ekiti.
The Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, on Saturday said that the Federal Government needed to address the current revenue allocation formula, to enable state governments to pay the new minimum wage being requested by workers.
Fayemi spoke when he received the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Mr Ayuba Wabba, who paid him a courtesy visit in his office, in Ado-Ekiti.
Source: Daily Post
$15 minimum wage fight moves to Minnesota State Capitol
After persuading Minneapolis and St. Paul to adopt a $15 minimum wage, worker advocates now plan to pressure lawmakers to bestow that same raise on every minimum-wage earner in Minnesota.
In a prelude to their broader ambitions, activists will rally this week for hundreds of low-wage workers at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.
“In other states, victories in large cities have prompted the state to pass $15,” said Celeste Robinson, lead organizer with 15 Now Minnesota. “What we’ve seen in California, in Washington state, is that having capital cities, larger economic hubs, raise the wage is one of the best things that workers can organize around to push the state toward adopting a higher minimum wage.”
Source: Star Tribute
8 new laws Ramaphosa is about to sign that every South African need to know about
President Cyril Ramaphosa has confirmed that he is in the final stages of considering eight bills that have been passed by Parliament and referred to him for signing into law. In a statement released on Thursday (15 November), the Presidency said that the legislation encompasses a broad range of interventions and initiatives to deepen democracy and reduce poverty, unemployment and inequality. “All efforts are being made to expedite the processing of these bills without compromising the obligation imposed on the President by the Constitution,” it said. “President Ramaphosa is, therefore, assessing the legislation with a view to ensuring that their development – through consultation and drafting – is not vulnerable to legal challenge and that it is constitutionally compliant. “In this process, the President is mindful of the expectations of all sectors of society who participated in the development of this legislation and for whom implementation of these laws is an important component of addressing the societal and economic issues that gave rise to the legislative proposals,” it said. According to the statement, the following bills are under consideration
- National Minimum Wage Bill
- Basic Conditions of Employment Amendment Bill
- Labour Relations Amendment Bill
- Labour Laws Amendment Bill
- Political Party Funding Bill
- Public Audit Amendment Bill
- Extension of Security of Tenure Amendment Bill
- Liquor Product Amendment Bill
Source: BusinessTech
Nigerian Employment Law
Under Nigerian law, the relationship between an employer and an employee is regulated by the Common Law of Contract as applied by the Nigerian courts, and a draft of other statutes which in one way or the other, affect the right of employees. These statutes and other laws operate against the backdrop of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (the “Constitution”) and will be void to the extent that any of their provisions conflicts with the provisions of the Constitution.
The principal statutes and laws that are relevant to the employment of persons in Nigeria are:
a. Labour Act, (Chapter L1), LFN 2004;
b. The Trade Unions Act, (Chapter T14), LFN 2004 as amended by the Trade Union Amendment Act, No. 8 of 2005;
c. The Trade Disputes Act, (Chapter T8) LFN 2004;
d. The Trade Disputes (Essential Services) Act, (Chapter T9), LFN 2004;
e. The 3rd Amendment to the Constitution incorporates the National Industrial Court into the Constitution, with powers to hear civil and criminal cases and matters relating to labour, including trade unions and industrial relations, matters between employers, their organizations, employees and their trade unions/representatives respectively;
f. The Employees Compensation Act 2010;
g. The National Minimum Wage Act, (Chapter N61) LFN 2004 prescribes the minimum wage payable to employees regardless of whether such persons are employed in the public or private sector of the economy;
h. The Pension Reform Act 2014 establishes a contributory pension scheme (the “Scheme”) for the payment of retirement benefits to employees in both the public service and private sectors of the Nigerian economy;
i. The National Health Insurance Scheme Act, (Chapter N42), LFN 2004 has an underlying objective to ensure that every Nigerian has access to good health care and to protect Nigerian families from the rising cost of health care service;
j. The National Housing Fund Act (Chapter N45), LFN 2004 requires an employer to deduct an amount equal to 2.5% (two and a half per cent) of the monthly salary of any employee whose annual salary is up to three thousand Naira N3,000/US$20.02) and to remit the amount deducted to the National Housing Fund as the employee’s contribution to the National Housing Fund;
k. The Employees Housing Scheme (Special Provisions) Act, (Chapter E8), LFN 2004 makes it obligatory for an employer so designated by an order of the Minister of Employment, Labour and Productivity to establish, execute and maintain a housing scheme for its employees if it employs not less than 500 employees; and
l. The Industrial Training Fund (Amendment) Act, 2011 regulates the training and development of employees.
Source: Mondaq
Minimum wage and gender equality to become part of forestry certification
At the PEFC (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification) General Assembly which took place this week in Geneva, Switzerland, the members adopted a new benchmark of requirements that forest owners or managers must meet to get PEFC certification.
The new requirements include a minimum wage for forest workers, equal opportunities for employment, non-discrimination and gender equality as well as more protection of the rights of indigenous peoples. Fatimah Mohammad of UFES-Malaysia represented BWI in the Working Group on Revisions on Forest Management Standards and provided important input into the development of these requirements.
Source: BWI
Twins Once More: Saint Paul Passes $15 Minimum Wage Ordinance
On November 14, 2018, the Saint Paul City Council passed, and Mayor Melvin Carter signed into law, an ordinance that will raise the minimum wage in Saint Paul, Minnesota to $15 an hour starting as early as 2022 for large businesses operating within city limits. Long a priority of Mayor Carter, the increased Saint Paul minimum wage is now more closely aligned with that of its twin city, Minneapolis. The minimum wage ordinance is the result of almost a year of lobbying, discussion, and debate involving workers, organized labour, the business community, and elected officials. The city commissioned a study group that met regularly and received comments from interested stakeholders. Among the findings incorporated into the language of the ordinance was that Saint Paul has the highest percentage of residents living in poverty of any metro city with a population over 1,000 in Minnesota, more than 62,000 Saint Paul residents have incomes below the federal poverty level, and an increase in the minimum wage to $15 per hour would directly impact 31% of Saint Paul workers.
Source: Littler
Nigerian workers deserve a living (not minimum) wage
With Labour’s agitation for an increase in the minimum wage well and truly thrust unto the top end of political discourse in this country for the umpteenth time, coming on the heels of the threat of a nationwide strike on the issue, it is only appropriate, therefore, that this column finds a little space for an informed opinion on the hottest political issue of the day, especially as it is set to be embroiled in presidential politics in the election cycle. It has probably been timed by union leaders to fall into such, as it is a rare opportunity to catch the Buhari administration on the back foot and to hold their feet to the fire. Outside the election cycle, it might not command as much attention as it currently does. More so, potential negative consequences of an unresolved labour dispute could spell trouble for the ruling party, hence, the heightened desire on the employer (government) to settle.
Source: Punch
Higher minimum wage in Myanmar: bad news for workers?
This year the legal minimum wage in Myanmar was raised. In this article the actual effects and feared negative impacts of the new minimum wage are described. SOMO is calling on garment factories in Myanmar, and the international brands that source from them, to get their act together to help prevent and/or address these adverse effects as a matter of urgency.
In May of this year, the legal minimum wage in Myanmar was raised from 3,600 kyats (US$2,30 a day to 4,800 kyats (US$3.00). This sounds like a progressive move that is entirely in the interest of workers. However, the reality shows unintentional consequences that are not benefitting workers at all.
Source: SOMO
Five million claimants expected to benefit from the reduction of Employment Insurance waiting period Français
The Government of Canada is committed to helping the middle class and those working hard to join it. As a result of changes made on January 1, 2017, the waiting period for Employment Insurance (EI) benefits has been cut to one week. Reducing the waiting period provides more money for EI-eligible individuals when they become unemployed or leave work temporarily due to health or family pressures. By October 1, 2019, about five million cumulative claimants will have benefitted from this change.Today, the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, announced that this change has resulted in an estimated additional $650 million dollars a year.
Source: Cision
Charleston wants to raise the minimum wage for city employees as the cost of living increases
At the same time, the city of Charleston is working to add more affordable housing throughout the community, it wants to address another factor that’s making it difficult for workers to live here: low wages.
In next year’s budget, the city is poised to raise its minimum wage from $11.50 an hour to $12, an increase that would also slightly raise what workers in higher-paid categories would earn.
The increase isn’t just for the worker’s sake. At the end of this year, the city estimates it will have lost about 18 per cent of its overall workforce, excluding sworn officers in the police and fire departments. That’s a relatively high turnover rate when compared with other municipalities in the region.
Source: The Post and Courier
Child labour in the informal sector unprotected
The labour law does not have provisions to protect the rights of child labour in the informal sector. The Bangladesh Shishu Odhikar Forum has observed that the informal sector is neither taxed nor monitored by any government agencies. Such inadequate monitoring results into serious violation of rights of child labourers. The National Child Labour Survey released in 2013 says that some 3.96 crore children aged between 5 to 17 are employed in risky jobs as welders, assistants of vehicle drivers and in plastic and chemical factories, bidi factories, brick kilns, stone crushing, battery recharging, waste removal, and matchbox factories. Death of children working under exploitative condition has become common. Murders of child labour Rajan and Rakib at the torturous hands of their employer in recent time are illustrative of the situation. News and statistical reports illustrate a grim reality for a nation that is a signatory to the UN Child Rights Convention and claims to be committed to one of the important Sustainable Development Goals that is to end child labour of all forms by 2025.
Source: New Age
New California Labor Code Statute Results In Enforceable Covenant Not To Compete
In October 2016, I wrote about a newly enacted statute, Labor Code Section 925. That statute prohibits an employer from requiring an employee who primarily resides and works in California, as a condition of employment, to agree to a provision that would do either of the following:
- Require the employee to adjudicate or arbitrate outside of California a claim arising in California.
- Deprive the employee of the substantive protection of California law with respect to a controversy arising in California.
Any provision of a contract that violates Section 925 is voidable by the employee. If a provision is rendered void at the request of the employee, the matter must be adjudicated in California and California law must govern the dispute.
Source: Natlawreview
Minimum Wage: Labour Gives President Two Weeks to Submit Bill to N’Assembly
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) yesterday said the organised labour expects President Muhammadu Buhari to submit the new national minimum wage bill to the National Assembly for passage into law within the next two weeks, explaining that it was prepared to constructively engage the federal legislature to ensure quick passage of the bill.
Speaking to THISDAY on the telephone last night, the General Secretary of the NLC, Mr Peter Essom, said labour expects speedy transmission of the outcome of the negotiations to the legislature without further waste of time, warning that any delay could attract a reaction from workers.
Source: This day
Turkey: Legislative Proposal To Amend Mandatory Mediation On Labour Dispute
The legislative proposal submitted on 15 October 2018 (the “Proposal“) constitutes a motion to amend Article 3 of Law No. 7036 on Labour Courts, published in the Official Gazette dated 25 October 2017 and numbered 30221 (the “Labour Courts Law“).
Article 3 of the Law sets out a mandatory mediation requirement as a precondition to the commencement of formal litigation for certain labour law claims. Accordingly, where mediation is prescribed as a precondition, the claimant is obliged to first apply to mandatory mediation and any subsequent application to courts will require that the claimant presents a final mediation protocol demonstrating that the parties were unable to reach an agreement. Pursuant to the Regulation pertaining to the Law on Mediation concerning Civil Disputes, published in the Official Gazette dated 2 June 2018 and numbered 30439 (the “Mediation Regulation“), failing to do so leads to the direct rejection of the lawsuit petition on procedural grounds without any further procedural action or hearing. For more detail on the Mediation Regulation, please refer to our note dated 19 September 2018 on the Mediation Regulation.
Source: Mondaq