| dc.description.abstract | This Bill seeks to amend the Labour Act, Cap. L1, Laws of the Federation of
Nigeria, 1971. However, in reference to the Universal Declaration of Human
Rights (1948), the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms
of Discrimination Against Women (1979), the United Nations Convention on
the Rights of the Child (1989), the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action
(1995), the International Labour Organization's Declaration on Equality of
Opportunity and Treatment for Women Workers (1975), the International
Labour Organization's Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at
Work and its Follow-up (1998), and of course, the International Labour
Organization (ILO) Maternity Protection Convention (2000), in order to
solidify the protection of women by providing for the upward review of the
maternity leave for pregnant women and nursing mothers in Nigeria. It is
understandable that pregnancy and maternity are vulnerable periods in
women's life-circle especially the working ones and their families. In addition,
expectant and nursing mothers require special protection to prevent harm to
their or their infants' health, and they need adequate time to give birth, recover,
and nurse their children. At the same time, they also require protection to
ensure that they will not lose their job simply because of pregnancy or
maternity leave. Such protection not only ensures a woman's equal access to
employment, it also ensures the continuation of often vital income which is
necessary for the well-being of her entire family. | en_US |
