The Trade Union Congress (TUC) is making a case for the urgent resourcing of the National Labour Commission (NLC) to effectively deliver on its mandate.
Without such urgent aid to transform the Commission, the TUC fears the labour market would suffer.
To ensure its effectiveness and efficiency, the TUC wants the government to provide financial, human and material resources to enable the NLC to open offices and departments in all ten regions.
Making a case for the Commission during a courtesy call by the leadership of the TUC on President Akuffo-Addo at the Flagstaff House in Accra, Dr Yaw Baah General Secretary of TUC, described the current state of the NLC as “very poor.”
Section 144(1) of the Labour Act, 2003 (Act 651) requires the Commission to establish Regional and District offices to handle cases at the regional and district levels.
However, since its establishment in 2005, the Commission has been deprived of these offices, leaving it with only the head office in Accra to handle all labour disputes and related issues from across the country, resulting in a backlog of cases.
Dr Baah added that in the meantime, “to clear the huge backlog of cases, we suggest that the Commissioners be given the necessary incentives to sit at least four days per week instead of half a day per week.”
He also called for an amendment of the Labour Act to ensure a more sustainable way for industrial disputes to be settled quickly, adding that, the amendment would ensure that all members of the Commission work full time”.
He prayed the amendment to section 140 of the Labour Act which states that “The Commission shall meet to settle industrial disputes, but shall meet at least once in every two months to consider matters affecting its administration and performance of its functions.”
Dr Baah noted that the Organised Labour fully supported efforts towards promoting social dialogue among stakeholders in the labour set-up, saying that was the way to go to ensure industrial peace.
“Regular interaction among social partners will go a long way to prevent any costly and disruptive industrial action,” Dr Baah added.
Dr Baah asked the government to provide financial support for the Labour Administration Institutions Including Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations, Labour Department, National Labour Commission, and Fair Wages and Salaries Commission to enable them to perform to expectation.
This, according to the TUC, would empower the institutions to deal with industrial issues as quickly and efficiently as possible.
By: Fred Gadese-Mensah/adrdaily
