Jun 27, 2017
The National Labour Commission (NLC) says it is illegal for the outsourced workers on the Tema Port Expansion Project to embark on any strike.
The Commission, has therefore, restrained the workers from taking any such action to press demands from the China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC), the firm executing the project.
Following a recent strike by the workers demanding enhanced remuneration and direct employment, the CHEC petitioned the NLC to seek clarifications on its contractual obligations to outsourced workers from third party (L’aine Services Limited) and the workers’ Union.
The Commission, in its ruling dated June 23, 2017, said, “There is no privity of contract between L’aine Service and CHEC and hence it shall not be lawful for the workers of L’aine Services either acting by themselves or their representatives to seek to negotiate conditions of service directly with CHEC.”
“The respondent (union) are further restrained from engaging in any illegal action of any kind,” the ruling said.
In addition, the Commission restrained the Union and workers of L’aine Services Limited from coercing CHEC to directly employ them.
The CHEC outsources all its human resource needs, and the $1.5billion project has witnessed two strike actions by the workers.
Among other requests, the workers had demanded increased wages and permanent employment directly with CHEC, but the company has maintained it lacks the capacity to do so.
The project is aimed at expanding the capacity of the port to accommodate more and larger vessels, and making Ghana a maritime hub in West Africa.
By: ADR Daily Newsdesk
