The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), through its Director-General of the Manufacturing Association of Nigeria (MAN), Mr. Segun Ajayi-Kadir has thrown its support behind the ₦60,000 proposed by the Federal Government as the minimum wage.
The Association also tasked the Organized Labour to advocate for a minimum wage as opposed to the living wage being discussed.
Àjàyí explained that the economic environment has been daunting for both labour and private businesses, making it almost impossible for them to pay the wage being demanded by the labour union.
“To start with, this is a challenging time for anyone to negotiate minimum wage. From the perspective of the government, labour, and organised private sector, we operate in an environment where there is general acceptance that the macroeconomics are not right, even though the global economy is experiencing a lot of shakeups and the aftermath of government necessary reforms,” he said.
“From the beginning of the negotiations of the minimum wage, it’s evident to the tripartite— that is the government, labour, and organised private sector— that we are going to operate in difficult terrain.
“Incidentally, the organised private sector and government have offered N60,000 as the minimum wage and I think it is very important for us to understand that what we are talking about is the minimum wage.
“That is what some people have called the walk-in wage. That is the amount we will pay the least workers in the country. It is the minimum wage we are negotiating, not a living wage,” Ajayi said.
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