Labour Bill goes through debate stage

Accra, July 8,GNA- The Labour Bill, which aims at consolidating some of the existing laws on labour and mechanisms to promote industrial peace and harmony was debated in Parliament on Tuesday. The much-awaited Bill is expected to attract an unprecedented number of amendments as most members had declared their intentions to that effect.

Moving for the motion, Mr Kwaku Balado Manu, Chairman of the Committee on Employment, Social Welfare and State Enterprises, said the reformation of facets of labour laws was necessary to help modernise the Ghanaian job market to respond to global trends and realities. He said; "serenity in labour or industrial relations is a prerequisite in attracting investment to kick-start a slumbering economy."

The Chairman said the Committee sat on 21 occasions and consulted more than 15 labour unions, gender and special associations and personalities to consider the Bill that had about 177 clauses. Alhaji Mohamed Mumuni, Ranking Member, said the Bill sought to entrench fundamental human rights in the job place and social equity in the employment arena.

He said the Bill had made provisions for the right to work in safe and decent environment and equal pay for equal value of work.

"It has brought to the fore social equity and other sacred values on which our Constitution rest", he said.

The Member, who is a former sector Minister of Social Welfare and Employment, and one of the principal originators of the Bill, said it sought to align Ghana's labour laws to prevailing global realities.

"Ghana has ratified almost all International Labour Organisation (ILO) conventions and it is about time that she lived by those principles."

He said the Bill had softened the idea of "de-unionisation" of senior staff in most work places. "The Bill proposes that senior staff officers may opt to belong to unions and even if they are wanted out, it should be done through negotiations."

The Member criticised the power structure of the proposed National Labour Commission in the Bill.

He said the original idea of the Labour Commission had been watered down and made susceptible to political manipulations. The Member said the power of appointing the Chairman of the Commission given to the President, when there was a deadlock on an issue was most unfair.

He said allowances of the members of the Commission that were supposed to be paid through the Sector Minister would lead to manipulation.

Alhaji Mumuni called for a strict system of regulating Employment Agencies.

He said the unemployed was vulnerable and could be exploited and abused by Agencies if they were allowed to operate freely. "Make them accountable, let's check their background and even make it possible for their licences to be revoked in specific instances", he said.

The Member called for the definition of strikes for workers to know when they were embarking on a solidarity/sympathetic strikes or an illegal one.

Mr Abraham Osei-Aidoo, the Deputy Minority Leader, said he would seek an amendment to erase the sad "state of the casual worker".