The Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment has denied any involvement in illegal issuance of Recruiters’ Licence to Private Employment Agencies (PEAs) for human trafficking.
Charles Akpan, spokesperson for the Ministry of Labour and Employment, said this in a statement on Friday in Abuja.
Akpan made reference to publications in the media accusing the ministry of complicity in human trafficking, especially of Nigerian girls to other parts of the world.
The ministry has not issued any recruiters’ licence with respect to the placement of Nigerian citizens abroad in breach of the relevant provisions of the Labour Act CAP L1 2004, Akpan said.
He said:
Furthermore, at no time did the Federal Government issue any moratorium against issuance of recruiters’ licence.
The ministry is empowered by sections 23, 25 and 71 of the Labour Act Cap L1 LFN 2004 to licence fit and proper persons to operate as labour contractors and private employment agencies.
As part of the strategies to reduce irregular labour migration whilst promoting regular migration, the ministry has put in place a Labour Migration Desk to address the associated problems with the movement of skilled and low skilled persons within and outside the country.
According to him, the ministry seeks to create employment opportunities for Nigerians to work legally abroad, without fear of molestation, exploitation or any form of inhuman treatment or being subjected to unfair labour practices.
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He added that the ministry was guided by the provisions of the International Labour Organisation’s Migration for Employment Convention No 97, Private Employment Agencies Convention No 181 and its Recommendation No 188 and had taken initial steps required for its ratification.
Mr Akpan, however, said that one of the basic means of implementing the principles of Convention 181 on private employment agencies was their mandatory registration and licencing.
He noted that recruiters’ licences were issued to fit and proper persons and agencies in accordance with Section 25 of the Labour Act CAP L1 2004 and other requirements for the issuance of such licences.
It is apparent from Section 25 of the Labour Act CAP L1 2004 that persons who meet the requirements for International Licences are eligible to engage in domestic recruitment as well.
Furthermore, a recruiting agency may recruit low, middle, or highly skilled workers for placement within and outside the country.
