Mine Workers Beat War Drums

WORKERS WITHIN the country's mining sector have complained bitterly about what they termed unfair treatment meted out to them by their respective employers.

They therefore called on the government to intervene before matters get out of hand.

Ralph Agbalenyo, National Coordinator for the General Manufacturing and Metal Workers Union (GEMM) of Ghana Federation of Labour (GFL), in a four-point resolution to the Minister for Manpower, Youth and Employment, Nana Akomeah called on the National Tripartite Committee (NTC) to as a matter of urgency, employ means to address problems facing Ghanaian workers especially those within the mining sector.

“Considering the prevailing labour unrests which seem far from being resolved, we shall be compelled to go any length to put our issues across for redress; we are for this reason, calling on the National Tripartite Committee to address our concerns by May 1,” he told reporters prior to the formal presentation of the resolution.

The union is also calling on the NTC to consider setting up specialized labour courts to deal with industrial relations disputes in the country to ensure a more harmonious working environment for both employers and employees.

The resolution, adopted by the union on Wednesday February 20 at an emergency council meeting at Tarkwa in the Western Region was among other things, aimed at drawing the attention of the government to problems confronting the nation's labour sector.

Mr. Agbalenyo said the union took cognizance of the prevailing labour disputes in the country, particularly the recent ruling of an Accra Fast Track High Court Judge that seeks to give employers the ultimate right to terminate the appointments of their workers without assigning reasons for their actions.

He described as very unfortunate the court ruling, explaining that employers would certainly take advantage of it and treat their workers unfairly, thereby, worsening the already bad situation of the country's labour force.

Mr. Agbalenyo also expressed deep concern about the inability of the National Labour Commission to duly settle the numerous disputes brought before it by workers, stressing that government must take a second look at its budgetary allocation to the commission.

“The commission must be adequately resourced to perform its functions to the benefit of both employers and their employees.”

The labour guru therefore noted that the current situation bedeviling the country's labour front does not only go to pose a serious threat to industrial peace and harmony which are needed for growth but could go to undermine the powers of the commission to a large extent.

The four-point resolution signed by 19-member local and national executive committee was copied to the NTC, National Labour Commission, Labour Department, the Attorney General and the Ghana Chamber of Mines.

By Grace Eyram Dartey