Decent Work and Social Security: a Myth Or Reality in Nigerian Macro Communities?
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Annals of Global History Volume 1, Issue 1, 2019, PP 19-23 Decent Work and Social Security: A Myth or Reality in Nigerian Macro Communities? G. M. Kayode1, B. G. Agboola2 1,2Department of Adult Education and Community Development, Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria. *Corresponding Author: G. M. Kayode, Department of Adult Education and Community Development, Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria [email protected]. ABSTRACT This study examined jobs in formal and informal sectors of macro communities of Ekiti State, Nigeria, with a view to determine whether they could be described as decent work. The study also examined the existence of social security in the state. While random sampling was used to select nine communities used in this study, a purposeful sampling technique was used to select a total of ten respondents who were currently employed in the formal sector and another ten respondents in the informal sector. These respondents were used for the study. Three research questions guided the study and the instrument used for data collection was combined questionnaire administration and interviews. Questionnaires were administered on 180 purposely-selected respondents. The data obtained from these set of respondents was analysed by using Likert rating scale. Results obtained in the former sector were negative for all the jobs attributes considered while the positive attributes observed in the informal sector were enveloped by failure of the workers in this sector to meet their basic needs for survival. The State lacked social security that could alleviate workers’ poverty. Hence decent work is lacking in the State. Also the enabling environment for decent work is lacking in the state. The inconsistency in policy formulation and implementation, lack of sincerity by government as well as the recently experienced economic recession in Nigeria does not enhanced social security in the state. The study concluded that decent work and social security in the state could be described as a myth rather than a reality. Recommendations capable of attaining decent work and social security in the state were made. Keywords: Decent Work, Social Security, Myth, Reality, Macro Communities INTRODUCTION to achieving a fair globalization and poverty reduction. Decent work involves opportunities Decent work refers to employment that respects for work that are productive and deliver a fair the fundamental rights of the human person as income, security in the workplace and social well as the rights of workers in terms of protection for families, better prospects for conditions of work safety and remuneration personal development and social integration, (Wikipedia 2018). Thus the employment has freedom for people to express their concerns, respect for the physical and mental integrity of organize and participate in the decisions that the worker in the exercise of his/her affect their lives and equality of opportunity and employment. According to ILO (2018), decent treatment for all women and men. work sums up the aspirations of people in their working lives. It involves opportunities for work Decent work is presently made up four pillars in that is productive and delivers a fair income, its agenda. These are employment creation, security in the workplace and social protection social protection, rights at work, and social for families, better prospects for personal dialogue. In September 2015, the United development and social integration, freedom for Nations General Assembly recognised decent people to express their concerns, organize and work as an integral element of the new 2030 participate in the decisions that affect their lives Agenda for Sustainable Development. The Goal and equality of opportunity and treatment for all 8 of the 2030 Agenda calls for the promotion of women and men. sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and In the recent time, there has been a lot of decent work. Thus decent work is expected to concern for decent work as productive eradicate poverty and improve worker standard employment and decent work are key elements of living. Nigeria is one of the countries that Annals of Global History V1 ● I1 ● 2019 19 Decent Work and Social Security: A Myth or Reality in Nigerian Macro Communities? ratified ILO conventions that deal with the treatments. Thus Nigeria has continued to rights of the worker in the workplace and even record decent work deficits which include enshrined some of its provisions into the 1999 employment and labour market deficits, labour Constitution yet the observance of some of the standards deficits, deficits in social protection, rights have been weak. Workers in the country labour administration deficits, and social have been subjected to all manner of indecent dialogue deficits. treatments. The three tiers of government in the Purpose of the Study country, corporations, financial institutions, trading institutions as well as local private This study sets out to determine whether decent employers who are supposed to respect these work and social security is a myth or reality in rights, are the key violators. Thus poverty Ekiti State, Nigeria. The specific objectives of persists and apparent lack of social security this study are: abounds in the country. To assess whether decent work and social Consequent on the above, this study examines security abound in Ekiti State, Nigeria decent work and social security in a macro To determine the factors hindering decent community, Ekiti State, Nigeria, with a view to work and social security in Ekiti State, determine whether it a myth or reality. Nigeria Theoretical Framework Research Questions A categorical approach is used for this study. Can the available jobs in Ekiti State, Nigeria This approach evaluates the worthiness of work. be described as decent work? It involves the allocation criteria and elements of the decent work for employees’ groups. Does enabling environment available for Hence Smirnova (2010) offers criteria of decent decent work in the state? work for workers of intellectual activity, which Is there any social security in Ekiti State, are divided into two groups (basic and Nigeria? additional). The basic include employment Hypotheses income (remuneration, insurance and welfare benefits package); work conditions (accidents at The following null hypotheses were formulated: work, the conformity of the equipment and The available jobs in Ekiti State, Nigeria, working place with modern requirements, cannot be described as decent work. conditions and work safety); social security (documentary registration of labour relations Enabling environment for decent work is not with the employer; free employment; free available in Ekiti State, Nigeria choice in the sphere of activity (work, Ekiti State, Nigeria, lacks social security. employment); labour law compliance; employment stability); (training at the expense METHODOLOGY of the employer, work abroad, career This study was carried out in Ekiti State, development, self-realization, etc.). The Nigeria, between November and December additional criteria included the relevance of and 2018. The state was divided into three zones respect for labour; collective; corporate spirit of based on the existing political classifications the company; moral satisfaction; no overtime; into Ekiti Central, Ekiti, North and Ekiti South. an evaluation of the results; colleagues In each zone, three local government behaviour of colleagues; positive personal headquarters were randomly selected and used relationships in the team; the company's for the study. The towns selected are: reputation; mental work; content of work; etc.). Table1. List of communities used for the study Statement of the Problem Local Communities S/n Zone Government Nigeria is a signatory to ILO conventions that selected deal with the rights of the worker in the Area a. Ado-Ekiti workplace. Some of the provisions of ILO have Ado-Ekiti Ekiti b. Aramoko- been enshrined into the 1999 Constitution. 1 Ekiti West Central Ekiti Despite these efforts to ensure decent work in Ijero c. Ijero-Ekiti the country, the observance of some of the rights a. Ido-Ekiti Ido/Osi Ekiti has been weak. Workers in the country have 2 b Otun-Ekiti Moba North been subjected to all manner of indecent c. Ikole-Ekiti Ikole 20 Annals of Global History V1 ● I1 ● 2019 Decent Work and Social Security: A Myth or Reality in Nigerian Macro Communities? Emure 1.50 – 2.49 = D a. Emure-Ekiti Ekiti Ikere 3 b. Ikere-Ekiti South Ekiti South 2.50 – 3.49 = A c. Ilawe West 3.50 – 4.00 = SA In each community, a purposeful sampling The data obtained were analysed using technique was used to select a total of ten descriptive statistics especially frequency, means respondents who were currently employed in the and percentages. formal sector another ten respondents in the informal sector. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION These respondents were used for the study. The socioeconomic classification of the Three research questions guided the study. respondents (Table 2) revealed that respondents from both formal and informal sectors cut across The instrument used for data collection was sex, age, marital and educational status. combined questionnaire administration and interviews. The respondents from both sectors were male dominated (74% and 64% formal and informal Questionnaires were administered on 180 respectively), in the age range of 20-60 years purposely-selected respondents. (82% and 91% formal and informal The data obtained from these