The Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association and the International Labour and Arbitration Forum on Thursday held a high-level dialogue on improving access to labour justice, warning that delays, weak enforcement, and outdated laws risk undermining industrial harmony in a rapidly changing workplace.

Titled “Access to Labour Justice in a Rapidly Changing World of Work,” the event brought together key figures from the judiciary, legislature, executive, security agencies, organised labour, academia, and the diplomatic community.

Delivering the keynote address, Minister of the Superior Labour Court of Brazil,
Ministro Lelio Bentes Corrêa, highlighted Brazil’s long-standing system of specialised labour courts to stress the importance of effective and independent labour adjudication.

Corrêa noted that in an era marked by digitalisation, platform-based work, artificial intelligence, and increasingly precarious employment, labour justice institutions must adapt or risk losing relevance.

“Labour courts and dispute resolution institutions must continuously adapt their procedures, jurisprudence, and use of technology to keep pace with the new world of work,” he said.

“However, this adaptation must remain anchored in international labour standards and in the enduring principles of fairness, dignity at work and social dialogue.”

He emphasized that accessible and credible labour justice systems are more than legal mechanisms—they are essential pillars of social stability and economic competitiveness.

“Where workers and employers have confidence that disputes will be resolved fairly and efficiently, you strengthen social stability and investor confidence. Where such confidence is lacking, tensions fester, and economic progress suffers,” he added.

In his opening remarks, Mr. Ifeanyi Okoye, President of NECA, stated that the gathering demonstrated a shared commitment to developing institutions that are fair, efficient, and trusted by both employers and employees.

“Your presence here underscores our shared commitment to building institutions that are fair, efficient, and trusted by both employers and workers. This year’s theme, Access to Labour Justice in a Rapidly Changing World of Work, could not be more timely. The world of work is evolving at an interdependent pace. Technology is shaping processes. New forms of employment are emerging. Economic pressures are testing the resilience of enterprises and workers alike,” Okoye said.

He emphasized that access to legal justice is no longer optional in modern economies.

“In such an environment, access to legal justice is not a luxury. It is a necessity for social stability, investor confidence, and sustainable economic growth,” he said.

Okoye also argued that prevention should serve as the first line of defence in industrial relations.

“While access to legal justice is critical, it is even better when workplaces are structured in such a way that parties do not need to seek legal justice in the first place,” he said. “The most effective dispute resolution system is one that prevents disputes through clear and sound human resource practices, effective communication, and social dialogue.”

He noted that since the introduction of structured industrial relations frameworks in the 1980s, collective bargaining and compliance with labour laws have greatly helped to reduce workplace conflicts.

“When collective bargaining functions well and when labour laws are understood and applied properly, many conflicts can be resolved fairly and without escalation. In this sense, prevention, compliance, and dialogue are the first layers of labour justice,” he said.

The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs Didi Esther Walson Jack, speaking through the Director of Legal Services in her office, emphasized that access to labour justice starts within institutions.

“Access to labour justice begins with clear rules, transparent human resource processes and effective internal grievance mechanisms within the public service,” she stated.

“Our reforms in performance management, disciplinary procedures, and digital HR systems are aimed at ensuring that civil servants can seek redress fairly and without fear.”