World day for decent work marked

The Secretary General of the Trades Union Congress Mr. Kofi Asamoah on Tuesday protested employers' ability to sack employees without offering reasons.

He says the practice has dire consequences on security of employment, industrial harmony and labour relations in Ghana.

He made the comments on Tuesday at a joint press conference organised by the Trades Union Congress and the Ghana Federation of Labour to mark world day for decent work.

According to a court ruling presided over by Mrs. Irismay Brown, the Labour Act 2003 does not compel employers to give reasons for terminating contracts with employees, but the Secretary General said “this does not protect workers' rights.”

Mr. Kofi Asamoah therefore called on government to ratify the International Labour organisation (ILO) convention which he said provided protection for workers.

He said poverty reduction largely depended on job creation and called for a continued expansion of the economy to absorb the teeming unemployed youth.

While commending government for implementing the National Youth Employment programme, Mr. Asamoah underscored the need for an improvement in their working conditions.

He however chided government for unfair wages and salary in the public sector and expressed the hope that the single spine salary structure for public sector would be operationalised early next year to ensure fairness.

He said the search for decent work is not a choice but a national obligation, which would go a long way to eradicate poverty in the country.

Story by Nathan Gadugah