NIGER: LABOR CONFEDERATION, GON SIGN 20-POINT PROTOCOL

UNCLAS NIAMEY 000225 DEPT FOR AF/W, AF/RSA, AND DRL/EA ACCRA ALSO FOR AF/WA PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHER DEPT PLS PASS USAID FOR AFR/W SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ELAB PGOV PHUM SOCI SCUL NG SUBJECT: NIGER: LABOR CONFEDERATION, GON SIGN 20-POINT PROTOCOL ¶1. Negotiations that started in mid-2008 between the Government of Niger (GON) and seven labor confederations came to conclusion on March 20 with the signature of a protocol. Out of 20 items negotiated, only one did not reach resolution. ¶2. On May 1, 2007, on the occasion of International Labor Day, seven labor confederations - CDTN, CNT, CGSL, USTN, UGTN, UGSEIN, and USPT - submitted a memorandum of grievances to the GON Minister of Civil Service and Labor. Resolution of these grievances, however, stalled due to various challenges, which led unions to threaten to launch a large-scale strike to press the GON to address their demands. ¶3. The points of agreement between the GON and labor unions range from labor freedoms to fringe benefits, affordable social services, reduction of income taxes, payment of allowance arrears, salary and pension increases, public service career management, and the ratification of ILO conventions on labor safety. The following are some of the major points of the agreement: -- Respect for labor freedoms by all employers: the GON, via a circular in March 2008, called all public and private sector employers to comply with labor freedom provisions. The GON further ensured that labor inspectors enforce this decision. Unions welcomed the decision and engaged to report any violations to the Ministry of Civil Service and Labor; -- Bill on public service bylaws advanced to the National Assembly: the two parties noted that the GON had submitted and enacted the law; -- Adoption of the regulations component of Niger's Labor Code and the revision of the private sector contracting convention: the GON informed unions of an ongoing process of revision of the Labor Code. The GON promises to submit the revised Labor Code to the Secretary General of the Government by late April for adoption by the Council of Ministers. The private sector contracting system would start immediately thereafter; -- Social (affordable) housing policy: the GON informed unions that it has adopted such a policy in 1998, and that the 2009 national budget included a provision of $4 million (2 billion CFA) for social housing projects; and -- Ratification of ILO conventions on labor health and safety: the two parties note that the GON has addressed this request, as it has ratified both conventions. ¶4. No agreement was reached on major issue: reduction of the worker income tax by 10 percent. The GON showed some interest in addressing this issue, although the two parties agreed to continue negotiations on this issue. Whitaker