FG calls for balanced reportage on labour migration
The Federal Government has called for balanced and informed media coverage of labour migration.
Dr Yerima Tarfa, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Employment, made the call during a sensitisation workshop organised for Labour correspondents on "Effective Coverage of Labour Migration" in Abuja on Tuesday.
Tarfa, represented by Dr John Magbadelo, Director, Reform Coordination and Service Improvement in the ministry, said that media practitioners should equip themselves with the relevant background information to achieve balanced and informed reportage on labour migration.
He said that this includes international and national legal framework, national policy on labour migration and their recognition of fundamental human rights.
According to him, informed and responsible reportage will effectively eliminate public misperception and misconception of labour migration by striking the necessary balance between its benefits and disadvantages.
The permanent secretary said that the objective of the workshop is to expand the capacity of media practitioners in their knowledge of ILO Conventions and national policies on labour migration,
He said that this would aid the media in achieving fair and balanced reportage.
"Such reportage will contribute to the elimination of public misconception against migrant workers, while highlighting their positive contributions to migrant workers and to the society, when labour migration is well-governed and practised," he said.
Tarfa, however, noted that responsible, fair and ethical reportage would also serve to discourage prejudice, intolerance and stigmatisation against migrant workers and their families as well as unfair recruitment and dehumanisation.
"Poor reportage has the potentials of triggering negative public perceptions of labour migration and creating discontent, whilst balanced and fair reportage will bring about positive perception from the same public.
"Positive reportage will further help to stem the usual conflict between local labour and migrant labour," the permanent secretary said.
He further said that responsible and balanced reportage would counter the negative narrations on the issue by highlighting its contributions to the socio-economic development of the places of origin and destination of migrant workers.
He said that media coverage of labour migration should not overlook abuses, exploitation, violation of human and labour rights and other negativities in the market, as well as the dangers and risks of irregular, unsafe and badly-governed labour migration.
Earlier, Mr Charles Akpan, Deputy Director, Press and Public Relations Unit in the ministry, said that the workshop was designed to equip journalists with necessary tools to help them achieve the intended objective of responsible reportage of labour migration within the ambit of best global practices.
