Some trade unions, including the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the International Lawyers Assisting Workers Network (ILAW) Nigeria, have joined forces to end unfair labor practices against app-based drivers in Nigeria.
The trade unions, which comprised the Solidarity Center and the National Union of Professional App-Based Transport Workers (NUPABTW), stated this in a statement issued on Friday in Lagos following a strategy meeting targeted at addressing issues encountered by app-based drivers.
According to Jacqueline Wamai, ILAW Regional Coordinator, collaboration between the organizations has become necessary to protect and defend the welfare and rights of Uber and Bolt app-based drivers in Nigeria.
“We could have a good judgment, but again, we need good unions that will play a very large part in carrying out the execution of these decisions, because a judgment without enforcement has no influence on society.”
“As a result, we must begin strategizing on how to restore better working conditions for workers in digital platforms who we believe represent our future generations,” she said.
In addition, Mr Jeff Vogt, Director of ILAW, stated that when digital platforms such as Uber were launched in South Africa in 2012, Nigeria in 2014, and Kenya in 2015, they came with the promise of financial freedom and flexibility in these countries.
“Unfortunately, Uber app-based drivers all over the world have testified about low wages, loss of life, threats of physical violence and verbal abuse, and a lack of control over the unfavorable terms and conditions that they had no choice but to accept.”
“In fact, the Uber Company decides on the rate of pay and commissions to be given to drivers, and it also uses the algorithm to push drivers to work long hours or be suspended from the platform if they fail to work according to their terms.”
“Drivers are constantly monitored, which might lead to dismissal if they try to create a platform to safeguard their welfare and interests,” Vogt explained.
He stated that, notwithstanding their claims that they were only agents and self-employed employees, it was evident that the digital app businesses were definitely employers and engaged app-based drivers in a regular employment relationship.
He advised ILAW members that the first step toward improving their working conditions was to recognize these uber app-based drivers as workers rather than just agents.
According to Sonny Ogbuehi, Country Programme Director at West Africa Solidarity Centre, digital app companies are only interested in profit and have little or no regard for the welfare of their employees.
He cited the murder of about ten drivers in Lagos State between January and August 2021 as an example.
“It had become critical for ILAW to step up and organize themselves in order to combat the heartbreaking challenges faced by workers using digital app platforms such as Uber and Bolt,” he explained.
NUPABTW President Ayoade Ibrahim stated that the level of peculiarities in the platform sector had reached an all-time high and that all hands must be on deck to rescue workers from app-based companies.
Quadri Olaleye, President of the Trade Union Congress, praised ILAW members for their unwavering efforts to protect the interests of Uber drivers in Nigeria.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Olaleye promised that the unions were ready to work with ILAW to address the platform workers’ numerous challenges.