Labour Commission asked to take unquestionable decisions

Ho, Aug. 5, GNA - Chief Justice Georgina Wood, on Thursday called on

the National Labour Commission (NLC) to ensure that it takes

unquestionable decisions.

She said 93The more your decisions are questioned on appeal,

the more the Commission loses credibility and the more the industrial

relations climate becomes poisoned with lawlessness.

"The more your decisions are able to stand the test of time in

the Courts, the more credible and well positioned you become to deliver

your mandate of promoting law and order in the industrial relations

environment."

Chief Justice Wood said these at the opening session of a two

-day workshop on settlement of labour disputes, under the Labour Act

2003 Act 651, organized by the NLC for its social partners, government

officials, organized labour and employers in Ho.

She reminded the Commissioners that they were obliged to

ensure that 93your decisions are well-founded in law as well as industrial

relations practices to avoid being questioned."

Chief Justice Wood told the Commission that its ability to

deliver on its mandate would help to reduce the burden on the

traditional Courts to deliver 93justice to disputing parties on time."

She urged all social partners to support the NLC by respecting

its decisions, orders and directives in as much as they were consistent

with the law and procedure.

In a statement read on his behalf, the Minister for Labour and

Social Welfare, Mr Enoch Teye Mensah said the cordial relationship

between social partners and relevant labour market institutions has

ensured relative industrial peace in the country.

He said the sustenance of the peaceful industrial climate

required that 93we submit ourselves and adhere to the provisions of the in dispute settlement, enforcement of Commission's decisions, processes

of facilitation of negotiation of labour disputes and expectations of

Government. However, we are convinced that we are not in a popularity contest and so should only act by the oath we swore.".

The Deputy Volta Regional Minister, Colonel Cyril Necku (rtd)

observed that the workshop was timely in view of tension in the labour

front.

He said 93the relevance of the Labour Act as well as the role of

the Labour Commission has become critical when appropriate skills are

required to resolve unrest on the labour front, especially with the advent

of the implementation of the Single 96Spine Salary Structure."

The workshop would focus on mediation process, processes of

voluntary arbitration and compulsory arbitration, lessons and challengeslabour law, and respect institutions established to settle disputes whenever they occur."

The Chairman of the Commission, Mr Joseph Akom Aryitey said

the representation of Government, employers and organised labour on

the Commission has helped to avert any attempts at influencing its work.

He said that it gives the assurance 93that Commissioners will