Four newly formed trade unions -

Disabled, Musicians, Madina Traders and Makola Traders unions -

were on Thursday presented with certificates of affiliation to the

Ghana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) in Accra.

Mr Kofi Asamoah, Acting Secretary General, who made the

presentation, said the union was organizing people in the informal

sector adding that, organizations that were sure their objectives were

not in conflict with those
of the TUC were welcome to be members.

He said the union had adopted a three-year strategic plan

2008-2010 covering education, training, policy, research,

organizational development,
re-structuring, organizing and international affairs.

Mr Asamoah said the plan sought to professionalize the

operations of the TUC, reach out and maintain constant touch with

members in order to provide service more efficiently and effectively.

He said many in the informal sector had neither regular hours of

work nor regular incomes and that posed major challenges to many

people and their families especially in old age.

Mr Asamoah urged them to take steps to be members of the

social security scheme saying "you are qualified to be members

once you earn an income. You need not stay out of it because your

income is not regular; your contribution can be a subject for

negotiation."

He said pension reforms were currently ongoing in Ghana to

improve the lot of pensioners after a lot of agitation and struggle on

the labour front.

Currently before parliament is a bill on pensions which is to

introduce a contributory 3-tier Pension Scheme with adequate

provisions to cover operations in the informal economy which

constitute about 80 per cent of the working people.

Mr Asamoah said: "We look forward to the passage of the

national pension reform bill as soon as practicable to provide the

necessary legal framework on pensions for all working people

without exception and to ensure social protection for all."

Mrs Diana Hopson of the Musicians Union of Ghana said the

affiliation would serve as a guide to run the organizations better. Source: GNA - Ghana News Agency