Domestic Workers Covered by New Minimum Wage?
Fact Check: Does the New Minimum Wage Apply to Domestic Workers?
Claim: Senate President Godswill Akpabio announced that the new minimum wage of N70,000 applies to all workers, including domestic staff such as maids, drivers, and gatemen.
Findings:
- New Minimum Wage: The 2024 National Minimum Wage Amendment Act sets the new minimum wage at N70,000, replacing the previous N30,000 wage.
- Coverage: Both the 2019 and 2024 Acts exclude domestic workers. The Acts include exemptions for establishments with fewer than 25 employees and other specific categories.
- ILO Convention: Nigeria has not adopted the ILO Domestic Workers Convention No. 189, which calls for domestic workers to be covered by minimum wage laws.
Conclusion: The new minimum wage law does not cover domestic workers, contrary to the claim made by Senate President Akpabio.
