Why decent work is essential after COVID-19, ASSBIFFI

Workers in the banking sector has emphasized why decent work must take the central stage as the world returns to work post COVID-19 pandemic.The workers under the umbrella of the Association of Senior Staff of Banks Insurance and Financial Institutions (ASSBIFFI) has tasked the Federal Government to ensure decent work and protection of workers at work places as part of the COVID-19 recovery efforts.
The President of the union,  Olasanoye Oyinkansola, in her address during the celebration of the 2020 World Day for Decent Work, organised by the union in Lagos said decent work for all workers must be the foundation for recovery plans.
She also noted that financing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) remains the best framework for resilience. 
According to her towards attaining the New Social Contract for Recovery and Resilience in line with the dictates of post COVID-19 workplace,  employers in financial sector are compelled to adopt new rules so as to remain relevant in their place of work.  
“These rules include alternate work days arrangement to comply with physical distance protocol,  remote work,  virtual meetings,  seminars,  and conferences via webinar,  zoom,  telegram,  among others,” she said.
Olasanoye stated that to enhance recovery, the nation must build a social contract involving the tripartite (workers,  employers and government) on how best to withstand the aftermath of the pandemic using the contract as a foundation. 
“Towards this end,  ASSBIFI opine for the generation and sustainable employment opportunities,  sustained fundamental principles and right to work,  occupational safety and social protection, among others,”  she said. 
In the same vein, the Trade Union Congress (TUC) has called on the Federal Government as part of post COVID-19 plan, to carry out some bold reforms, robust fiscal and monetary policy actions to reduce the number of Nigerians who may be pushed into poverty and acts of criminality.
The President of the TUC, Quadri Olaleye said: “Nigeria is a mono-economy; hence the collapse of international oil prices has been monumental. It has destabilized the macroeconomic balances thereby further increasing the number of Nigerians living in poverty.” 
Olaleye also called on employers in both public and private sectors to give attention to the human resource as it remains one of the critical ways to bring back economic growth and build a new global economy.