MINIMUM WAGE NEGOTIATIONS AND EMPLOYEE PARTICIPATION: INSIGHTS FROM THE NIGERIAN LABOUR CONGRESS

Abstract

This study focused on the effects of employee participation on minimum wage determination, with reference to the Nigerian Labour Congress. The specific objectives are to: ascertain the mode and level of Nigerian Labour Congress members’ participation in minimum wage determination, and examine the impact of employee participation in minimum wage determination on the performance of members of Nigerian Labour Congress. The researchers adopted a survey research design. The population of the study is one thousand eight hundred and forty six (1846) being top official members of the Nigerian Labour Congress in the South Eastern States of Nigeria. Using Taro Yamen’s formula, the sample size was; three hundred and thirty (330) respondents which was sampled from different branches and units of Nigerian Labour Congress in the South Eastern States of Nigeria. This was done using purposive sampling technique, Descriptive statistics, and Logistic Regression analysis to analyse the objectives. The major findings revealed that meetings with government representatives, collective bargaining process, exerting upward pressure on the government and advising government are the major ways that the members of Nigerian Labour Congress actively participate in minimum wage determination in Nigeria. Furthermore, the result revealed that bargaining process, bringing low wages up to standard, eliminating unfair competition and advising government which are modes of participation in minimum wage determination are positive and significantly related to the performance of members of Nigerian Labour Congress. The researchers concluded that government in trying to reduce the pressure it gets from the Nigerian Labour congress should make positive response to the needs of Nigerian employees, and recommended that government should embark on and stick to adequate policy implementation as regards minimum wage determination