In a landmark agreement, the Shipping Agencies, Clearing, and Forwarding Employers Association (SACFEA) has approved a N200,000 minimum wage for shipping agency workers, exceeding the national minimum wage of N70,000. This new wage structure is the highest in any industry nationwide and marks the end of a 20-year struggle for better working conditions.
The agreement was facilitated by the Nigerian Shippers’ Council and supported by the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy. SACFEA’s President, Mrs. Boma Alabi, expressed optimism that this new agreement will boost the nation’s blue economy, improve productivity, and establish uniform minimum standards.
“The most significant thing is that in setting a minimum standard for the shipping industry, we have gone above and beyond any other industry in Nigeria. The national minimum wage is N70,000 and we know what it took to get the Federal Government to get to that point. By the agreement we have signed today, our minimum wage is N200,000. It is almost triple the national minimum wage,” Mrs. Alabi said.
The Minister for Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, urged workers to enhance their productivity and efficiency in response to the improved conditions. “I enjoin the labor unions to remain steadfast and vibrant in advocating for the rights of workers by ensuring compliance with the agreed standards,” he said.
The agreement was finalized in April, and the new minimum wage conditions will take effect immediately. In July, MWUN announced it had reached an agreement with shipping industry employers on minimum wage standards, concluding over two decades of negotiation struggles.
The President General of MWUN, Adewale Adeyanju, expressed the unions’ gratitude for the achievement and assured that shipping workers would demonstrate increased performance. “As we celebrate this achievement, let us also remember that our work is far from over. We will continue to advocate for the rights and interests of maritime workers and the employers for peaceful industrial harmony,” Adeyanju said.
Adewale Adeyanju, Deputy President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, reiterated MWUN’s commitment to ongoing collaboration with all stakeholders for the industry’s benefit.
