The Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund has called employers and employees to adhere to safety measures at workplaces in order to avert occupational disasters or injuries and enhance productivity.
Speaking at the NSITF Special Day, during the 2019 Lagos International Trade Fair in Lagos, the Lagos Regional Manager, of the NSITF, Ms Olufunke Aleshinloye, said there was a positive correlation between workers welfare and productivity.
While revealing that the body had paid about N3bn in compensation as of September, 2019, Aleshinloye explained that plans were underway to accommodate the informal sector on its Employees Compensation Scheme.
She added that those in that category would have to make contributions to the scheme, unlike the formal sector where the employer makes the contribution for the employees.
She said, “Today is our special day at the international trade fair and over the years, we have used it as an avenue to provide counseling, promote awareness and advocacy as well as carrying out our corporate social responsibility
engagements among the people. As partners in progress with the Lagos Chamber of Commerce (and Industry), we have set aside today to engage employers and employees about safety at workplaces.
“We are saying that there must be safety at workplaces so as to avoid occupational injuries or disasters because a healthy workforce will guarantee productivity. There is a positive correlation between workers welfare and productivity; a company status is not only measured by the profit of the organisation but by the wellbeing of the employees and we urge employers to provide adequate guarantee in the event of occupational disaster”
Aleshinloye added, “One of the things we have done to make business easier is by making sure employees operate the account wherever they are domiciled; payment can be made in any location and not necessarily where you opened your account. You pay in any office where we are domiciled and issue you a receipt. We will reconcile the account with the branch where you created the account.”