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28.08.2015 Business & Finance

DIC workers call for government's intervention to avert job losses

By Joy Business | Emmanuel Agyei
DIC workers call for government's intervention to avert job losses
28.08.2015 LISTEN

Workers of Destination Inspection Companies (DIC’s) are calling on government to integrate them into any of the institutions that would be operating the Single Window Scheme at the ports from September.

According to them, this is the only way such skilled workforce could be prevented from wasting away at the expense of the economy.

Over 700 workers are to lose their jobs by Monday, August 31, 2015 because of government’s decision to end its contract with the five DIC’s.

The Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority is to take over the Destination Inspection role at the ports from September, 01.

IT Company, West Blue Consulting is to offer support services to Customs division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) to implement the Single Window Scheme at the ports.

Joy Business Editor, Emmanuel Agyei was in the offices of Ghana Link Network Services, one of the affected companies where the local Maritime and Dockworkers Union Chairman, Africanus Owusu-Ansah justified their appeal to Joy Business.

“We are just appealing to Mr. President. He is a Vandal, I am a vandal, he should just listen to us. We are young men and women with such specialized skilled work force. Should it just go to waste? And as I told you, I hold Masters in Ports and Shipping Administration and I can be manager at GHAPOHA (Ghana Ports and Habours Authority) but now I’m going home. What I’m I going to do? To add to the unemployment levels in the country” He ardently quizzed.

For most of the affected workers securing new jobs especially in these challenging economic times is their headache.

A special case in point which somewhat arouses empathetic emotions is that of the Classification Manager at Ghana Link Network Services, 50 year old Nana Ama Essuman who has been in the field for over 25 years.

“At my age I am not going to go around looking for job because they’re looking for younger people. They give you age limit of up to 35 or 40. So who am I going to apply to? Go back to Customs or West Blue whose offices I don’t even know the location” she said.

No job, for these workers also undoubtedly only spells doom for their family and dependents. In this instance too, the case of the Quality Assurance Officer, Kwame Gyan-Yeboah could also be described as peculiarly pathetic.

“I have a wife and 4 children, 2 of who are in the University. Apart from my immediate family, I also have extended family members who also depend on me. My senior brother is dead and I am looking after his children, six of them, including his wife, the widow. So it means all these people are going to suffer including myself” he stated” he said.

Meanwhile, a Human Rights court is set to rule on Monday, August 31, 2015 whether government can implement the single window scheme.

The case challenging government’s decision to West Blue in the scheme was thrown out on July 31 but the plaintiff filed a repeat application seeking an injunction on the implementation.

The ruling would be declared just a day ahead of the scheme’s implementation date, Tuesday September 01.

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