A human rights activist, Chude Achike, has condemned the growing wave of labour abuses in Chinese-owned companies across Nigeria, and indeed, the African continent. He described the pattern as disturbing, unacceptable, and embarrassing for a sovereign nation.

Reacting to a viral video showing a Chinese employer physically assaulting a worker, Achike exclusively told CBI News that foreign nationals have long exploited workers in ways that openly violate national labour laws.

Achike noted that cases of abuse have been reported several times over the years, alleging that some foreign companies engage in completely diametrical violations of Nigeria’s labour standards.

“We have labour laws that define employer-employee engagement. The government has a duty to enforce these laws. Unfortunately, we’ve seen too many foreign citizens, especially some Chinese, treat Nigerians badly in total violation of our labour laws,” Achike said.

The activist referenced the International Labour Organisation’s global campaign for “decent work,” stating that respect and dignity form the core of acceptable working conditions.

“Decent work entails a lot. It’s not just about remuneration. The treatment of workers must be dignifying and respectful. That is invaluable,” Achike added.

Although he has not personally visited China, Achike said he believes Chinese workers would not be subjected to the same dehumanising conditions because their government enforces strict workplace and public conduct rules.

“I believe the Chinese treat their own people better because their government is very strict. In normal factory conditions, I think workers there are treated better than what we have here,” he told CBI News.

Union, Labour Ministry Must Act - Achike

Achike emphasised that it is the responsibility of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and its affiliate unions to act once reports of abuse emerge within factories.

He also stressed the oversight function of the Ministry of Labour: “The Ministry of Labour must visit factories, inspect conditions, ensure provision of protective gear, first-aid boxes, and health insurance. They must ensure full compliance with labour laws.”

Achike added that each side, government, employers, and employees, forms a tripod recognised by the ILO, and each must play its role.

On why enforcement remains weak, Achike said many cases may never reach appropriate authorities, but noted that even when issues are known, government response is often slow.

Achike said: "Well, no serious country would be happy to hear that its citizens have been treated badly outside the shores of that country, not to talk of foreigners within your own country treating your own citizens badly. It's almost difficult to believe that that can actually happen, but we have seen it happen in this country, you know, several times over the years, where foreign nationals who set up businesses in Nigeria and employ Nigerians just treat them strictly in ways that are completely opposed to Nigeria's labour laws. We have labour laws, we have laws that determine the kind of engagement that employers and employees, you know, should be having with one another, you know, and then the government has a duty and responsibility to enforce these laws.

"But unfortunately, we've seen too many, too many, you know, foreign citizens, especially maybe Chinese, treat Nigerians badly, in total violation of the labour laws of this country. And so it's not a good thing at all, you know, it's not something that should be supported, you know, it's not something that should be tolerated under any circumstance. Because, I mean, there is something called, you know, there has been a campaign now for quite some time by the international labour organisations and the affiliate partners in different countries like Nigeria, always talking about decent work.

"Now, decent work entails a lot of things, you know, but essentially, the treatment of workers is not just in terms of the remuneration, but the treatment of workers in a way that is dignifying, in a way that is respectful, you know, is invaluable within the working circle. Well, I can't exactly, you know, do a comparative analysis of how Nigerian workers are treated in China, and then, you know, how they are treated here in Nigeria, because I've not been to China personally, and I don't know what their working conditions really are. But I guess that, I guess that, you know, the Chinese will treat their own people better, you know, I guess that they treat their people better, because you know that their governments are usually, their government is usually very strict on so many things, and I want to believe that labour is not an exception.

"You know, their government emphasises a lot of things, you know, how people conduct themselves in the public space, in the workplace, you know, and we have seen how the Chinese deal with even their own elites, especially those who get themselves involved in corruption and graft. They get them executed. So, when it comes to normal factory conditions, you know, I think that it will be far better than what we have here, and I think that they will treat their people better.

"That's the impression I have. Well, what are the key responsibilities and roles of key government agencies, such as the Ministry of Labour and Employment, the National Human Rights Commission, and the Nigerian police, for enforcing labour laws in these factories? Well, we also, we first have to determine that there is a violation of labour laws in the factories, and that becomes the responsibility of the Nigerian Labour Congress, especially if workers in these factories that you are talking about are affiliated to workers, to NLC, that they are members of NLC. So, you would expect that their branch, their, you know, branch union would get in touch with them if there's any violation of workers' rights."

He continued: "You would expect them to stand up for their members, and then also escalate, depending on the circumstances, also escalate such a situation to their parents' body. From there, if it needs escalation up to the level of the NLC, then it will be escalated. This is what I expect.

"And then another, you know, institution of government, an institution of government that has a primary responsibility of knowing what is happening in the workplace, is the Ministry of Labour. You know, so they have specific guidelines, because, you know, the labour really stands on a triple, I would say, on a tri-point. You have the federal government, you have employers, and you have employees.

"That is workers. You know, so that is the basis of even engagement, not just in Nigeria, but at the International Labour Organisation. That tri-point is recognised, you know, and seen as important for effective collaboration and engagement with one another for the good of the worker and for the good of the workplace.

"You know, so the Ministry of Labour has a responsibility to visit workplaces, to visit factories, to also show that what they see conforms with extant labour laws, you know, such as depending on the sensitivity of the places they visit or the kind of engagement that the workers in those places have. You know, there are some places you realise that all workers are supposed to have protective gear, you know, and some other things. Make sure that there is a proper first aid kit, you know, box in the workplace and that they have an effective health insurance policy.

"As you know, these things are important, you know, so they are supposed to make sure that all of these things are in place and that those who are supposed to wear safety materials and equipment, you know, adequately prepare themselves, you know, wear those things. You know, and if there's a violation, the Ministry of Labour has different instruments, you know, to call violators to order. So they need to do a lot of visitations to various, you know, places where workers are to be found so that they can make the appropriate report based on the things that they see on the ground."

Speaking on why the Nigerian government has reportedly failed to take consistent and decisive action against many of these non-compliant companies despite numerous reports, Achike said: "Well, I cannot say, you know, we have to be sure that some of these reports get to government, you know, agencies and that they did not and that they failed to act, you know, so it's, so again, when matters are reported, again, it's not just about the government, but first of all, the members have a duty to report any violation of their rights to their union. It is when they, when they, you know, report this violation to the union, then they can escalate, they can escalate and depending on the nature of what is going on, of the issue, then the labour leadership will have to decide the very next step that they have to take, you know, and the same thing with the Ministry of Labour. So I can't exactly stay here and say that they are not taking, you know, action, but generally, generally, there are some things, sometimes it would appear that the government, through drugs, through drugs, on some issues that are relevant to the welfare and the interests of the workers.

"The issue of casualization, for instance, it's not as if the government is not aware, the matter has been on-going for so long, which means that by now it should not be new to any labour person, or any worker that is coming to the workforce. So a lot more needs to be done.

"The problem is that our leaders sometimes seem distracted, making them unavailable to address such issues when they arise."