The Federal Government has approved the request of APM Terminals Apapa, to hire female employees to work on night shift. The move is in furtherance of the terminal management’s efforts to promote gender diversity and inclusion within the organisation.
Director of the Trade Union Services and Industrial Relations in the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity, Akpan O.U, who signed the grant of permit order on January 21, 2019, cited sufficient physical provisions and the company’s robust maternity policy as reasons for granting the request.
The Ministry order also requires APM Terminals 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. Nigeria is a member state of the ILO.
“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,” says Aniemeka Umeonyido, APM Terminals Apapa Head of Human Resources.
APM Terminals filed the permit application in April 2018, 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. With the permit, Aniemeka Umeonyido says they anticipate an increase in the number of female candidates for posted vacancies. 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 organisation,” adds Aniemeka Umeonyido.