Organised Labour in Ghana has marked this year’s May Day celebration, declaring a protest against unfair labour practices by employers against workers.
According to the Ghana Trades Union Congress (TUC), some employers are taking advantage of the pooly-resourced state of labour regulatory agencies to perpetrate unfair labour practices.
In that regard, the TUC has urged the government to equip labour regulatory bodies, such as the Labour Department, with the authority and resources to fight prevailing unfair work practices.
Addressing the national May Day parade at the Independence Square in Accra, Dr Anthony Yaw Baah, Secretary-General of the TUC, said by adequately equipping the agencies, it will ensure that the Ghanaian workers are not denied benefits such as annual leave, overtime allowance, employment contract, maternity leave and unionisation.
This year’s celebration has the theme, “Sustainable pensions for all: the role of social partners.”
“We in Organised Labour hold the view that these unfair labour practices are being perpetuated by some employers, who know that the state institutions such as Factory Inspectorate, Labour Department, and National Labour Commission, cannot enforce compliance because they do not have the resources,” Dr Baah said.
He therefore urged President, Nana Akufo-Addo, who was the special guest at the labour parade, to provide the necessary logistical, financial and human resources to these state institutions to perform their duties effectively.
Dr Baah also used the occasion to call on the government to facilitate a review of the country’s labour laws which he described as moribund and a colonial relic.
“The current labour laws are not providing adequate protection for workers particularly in terms of job security, income security and health and safety,” he said.
According to him, the TUC is trusting the government to provide the necessary support to the Ministries of Employment and Labour Relations, Justice and Attorney General’s Department and Parliament to “facilitate the review process.”
By ADR Daily Newsdesk
