TUC calls for ratification of ILO convention 190 for workers protection

Trade Union Congress (TUC) has called on government to prioritize the ratification of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Convention 190 on violence and harassment in the workplace by getting it passed to protect the dignity of all workers in Ghana.

Violence and harassment at the workplace have been violating individuals’ fundamental human rights that have been hindering productivity, damage morale, and undermine the well-being of workers.

In Ghana, evidence of workplace violence and harassment is prevalent in all sectors including formal and informal sectors particularly against women and vulnerable groups.

Available data indicates that 71.7% of respondents in a survey of 20,279 reported that they had experienced one form of violence or harassment in the workplace. Women constituted 53 percent while persons within the age group 22-35 years account for 67.9 percent.

This came to light when the regional office of TUC embarked on a health walk in solidarity to petition government to get the ratification of ILO Convention 190 in Ghana assent and passed.

The TUC together with key stakeholders, including labour unions, government representatives, and Civil Society Organizations after the walk presented a communiqué to the Northern Regional Minister, Alhaji Shani Alhassan Shaibu to be presented to government.

Northern Regional Secretary to TUC Madam Felicia Kraja presenting the petition to the Regional Minister said, since 2019, over 36 countries have ratified the convention and therefore begs the need for government to assent and pass the convention.

The various legal statutes such as the 1992 Constitution of Ghana; Labour Act, 2003 (Act 651); Children’s Act, 1998 (Act 560); Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29); Criminal and Other Offences (Procedure) Act, 1960 (Act 30); Domestic Violence Act, 2007 (Act 732); Labour Regulations, 2007 (LI 1833); Youth Employment Agency Regulations, 2016 (LI 223), and the Labour (Domestic Workers) Regulations, 2020 (L.I. 2408), were promulgated to address issues of violence and harassment in the country but the statutes are limited in scope in dealing comprehensively with issues of violence and harassment in the world of work.

According to her, the adoption of ILO Convention was to create safer workplaces for all workers and to end Gender-Based Violence which can only be effective when ratified and properly implemented.

"We recognize the efforts by the government through the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations (MoELR) and other stakeholders towards the ratification of the Convention 190, such as research surveys, sensitization of constituents, media engagements among others," she said.

Northern Regional Minister Alhaji Shani Alhassan Shaibu who received the petition on behalf of government assured of government commitment to assent to the convention.

"Government is working assiduously to make sure the convention is ratified but as we all know, governance is a process and so effort would be done to get it passed," he stated.