The Employees Unpaid Wages Prohibition Bill (2019) has passed the second reading in the House of Representatives in Abuja. 

The bill, which seeks to ensure timely remuneration of employees in the public or private sectors, was sponsored by the speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila.

The bill, presented on the floor by Abubakar Fulata (APC-Jigawa) on behalf of the speaker, also seeks to prohibit the withholding of payment due to employees by employers in the guise of using the same to cover the cost of employee’s negligence.

The bill states that such ought to be covered by insurance and emphasises the need for transparent contracts between employers and employees.

The bill prescribed penalties against employers for violations of the provisions of this bill when passed into law.

“It provides for compensation for employees, improves the general welfare conditions of employment for labour in Nigeria,” he said.

In his ruling, the speaker referred the bill to the Committee of the Whole for accelerated legislative action.

(NAN)