THE IMPACT OF LABOR LAWS ON FUNDAMENTAL HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE WORKPLACE: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS BETWEEN NIGERIA AND THE UNITED STATES

Abstract

Labors laws are the body of rules that regulate the relationship between employers and employees at work places. Like all other laws, it provides for the rights and duties of both parties to labor contract. However, the rights so granted under this law has been subtly categorized under the specie of economic and social rights as against the civil and political rights which, arguably, are considered as fundamental. While in one breathe, labor law scholars are protesting the relegation of these rights, they are on the other hand are beginning to interrogate the potency of the former rights and found that they, by their very nature, are capable of adding meaning and advancing the civil and political rights. Thus, a genuine effort at protecting the fundamental rights would necessarily involve the protection of labor rights as economic and social rights. The problem in Nigeria, however, is that the government and generally employers of labor exploit the provisions of various labor laws to hinder the protection and advancement of the fundamental human rights of their employees. Hence, this paper seeks to draw lessons from the labor laws and practice of the United States to demonstrate the positive impacts that Labor laws could have in strengthening the protection of fundamental human rights of Nigerian workers at their workplaces.