TUC demands premium on workers' education

Employers must place premium on workers' education as an important tool of maximising productivity, says Kofi Asamoah, Secretary-General of the Ghana Trades Union Congress.

Addressing the eigth graduation ceremony of the Ghana Labour College in Accra on Saturday, he noted that most organisations engaged people without providing them with the requisite training and stressed that in a globalised world, with its associated challenges, “training and re-training have become indispensable for the Ghanaian worker”.

Fifteen people, including two females, received certificates in Labour Studies after going through the 20-week course, which was a collaboration between the TUC and the Institute for Development Studies of the University of Cape Coast.

Mr Asamoah asked employers to ensure that their employees work under decent conditions including greater opportunities for family development, fairness, gender equality and enhanced incomes.

He underscored the need for labour laws to manifest in activities at workplaces to ensure that the rights of workers were respected.

“Employers shall also recognise workers right to form or join unions for their collective interests,” he added.

David Kwabla Dorkenoo, Principal of the College, explained that the primary aim of introducing the Labour Studies certificate course, was to help train capable leaders at all levels of leadership of the labour movement.

He said since its inception in 2001, the certificate programme had produced 157 graduates from the various labour organisations in the country, adding that the Diploma programme was offered at the University of Cape Coast.

Mr Dorkenoo said the students studied topics including, International Labour Standards and Labour Legislations, Occupational Health Safety, Occupational health, Safety and Environment, Industrial Relations, Labour Economics, Research Methodist and Computing skills.

Mr Justice Anoff a lecturer at the Institutes for Development Studies of UCC, said the University would undertake a review of the curricula of the Diploma programme to reflect the dynamics of the time.

Source: Ghanaian Times