Labour unrest threaten Golden Age of Business - Aliu

Vice President Aliu Mahama on Thursday expressed concern about the disregard for work ethics and labour unrest, which, he said, undermined productivity and the government's programme to achieve a Golden Age of Business. He, therefore, urged the International Labour Organisation (ILO) to assist trades unions to train their members with good negotiation skills so that they could resolve their problems through dialogue without resorting to unruly behaviour.

Vice President Mahama was speaking at a meeting with Mr Cornelius Dzakpasu, an ILO Director, who called on him at the Castle, Osu, to discuss the world labour body's programmes in Ghana.

The ILO is implementing four key programmes on Labour Standards; Social Security; Tripartite and Social Dialogue; and Fundamental Human Rights.

Vice President Mahama said it was critical for the representatives of workers to promote high productivity and industrial harmony at the enterprise level, adding that they should not encourage indiscipline.

"Strike actions and destruction of property to settle disputes at our work places discourage investors and affect the flow of Foreign Direct Investments, which we need for economic growth," he said.

He said it was essential for workers to consider themselves as partners of their employers, who had a stake in the success or demise of their enterprises.

The Vice President said Ghana believed in the principles of the ILO and would welcome its advice and support to improve industrial harmony.

Mrs Cecilia Bannerman, Minister of Employment and Manpower Development, announced that the Ministry had formed a committee to develop a productivity promotion programme that would test international best practices in selected enterprises.

She said when the programme, which would soon be placed before the Cabinet, would be replicated in both the formal and informal sectors at the national level should it become successful.

Mr Dzakpasu underscored the importance of productivity, saying it was a crucial ingredient for enterprises that wanted to successfully compete at the global level.

He praised the Vice President's Campaign for Greater Discipline, saying the call for productivity was in the right direction and should go beyond the workplace to the domestic level.

He said: "It would not be enough to invite investors when productivity levels are low. In international business competition, the winners are those, who have high productivity levels."

Mr Dzakpasu said the ILO had initiated a programme with EMPRETEC Ghana to raise the output levels of those in the garment and furniture businesses.

On Labour Standards, Mr Dzakpasu said the ILO contributed to the formulation of the Draft Labour Bill and incorporated its principles so that it would meet international standards.

He said the organisation would spend two million dollars to prepare its social partners to meet the challenges of the Bill when it is signed into law.

Before the Bill is passed, Mr Dzakpasu said the ILO would set up a National Labour Commission to address labour disputes in support of the Golden Age of Business agenda.

On its Social Security Programme, he said the ILO was extending health care protection to cover workers, who were poor and vulnerable, including those in the informal sector.

"In collaboration with Ghana Health Care Company under SSNIT, we have started a scheme for workers at Dodowa on a pilot scheme," he said.

Mr Dzakpasu said ILO's Employment Programme supported the creation of jobs and promotions, adding that the unemployment situation was bad.

To remedy the situation, he called for a review of the education curricula to focus on skill training to generate employment in the agricultural and industrial sectors.

He commended the government for the cordial relations it has forged with employers and organised labour, saying although there were some disputes the situation was better than that of many countries.

Mrs Sylvia Hinson-Ekong, Programme Manager of the International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour, who accompanied Mr Dzakpasu, urged the government to encourage the enrolment of children of school-going age in schools.