Eniola Peters.
Terminal operator at the Lagos Container terminal, APM Terminals Apapa, has said that its female employees would soon be doing night shift at Apapa Port.
The company explained that it has secured an order allowing it to hire female employees to work in the night.
The company’s Head of Human Resources, Aniemeka Umeonyido, said that it was part of the management’s efforts to promote gender diversity and inclusion within the organisation.
With the permit, Umeonyido said that the company was anticipating an increase in the number of female candidates for posted vacancies.
He said: “In fact, a female candidate has been considered as the top choice in a pool of applicants for the role of Reach Stacker and Empty Handler Operator, who operates yard handling equipment for moving containers between vessels and yard operations.
“Our immediate focus is clear: to tap into a broader and more diverse pool of talents and create a globally competitive organization.”
Already, a Director of Trade Union Services & Industrial Relations at the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity, Akpan O.U has signed the grant of permit order, citing sufficient physical provisions and the company’s robust maternity policy.
In the letter, the ministry order advised the company to comply with the provisions of Convention 171 or the night work convention of the International Labour Organisation, a United Nations specialised agency aimed at promoting rights at work, encouraging decent employment opportunities, enhance social protection, and strengthen dialogue on work-related issues.
Umeonyido said: “APM Terminals is deeply committed to advance diversity and inclusion across the organisation and we are delighted to have the support of the government in cultivating this culture. Securing this permit is an important first step in building an inclusive workplace where all talents have the same opportunity to grow and achieve their full potential.”
In April, 2018, APM Terminals Apapa filed the permit application, expressing that many qualified female employees over the years have indicated interest and willingness to work the graveyard shift. However, a provision in the Labour Act in Nigeria prohibits night work for women in industrial setting.
