TUC, NLC call for establishment of Tripartite Cttee

Accra, Aug. 16, GNA - Officials of the Ghana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) and the National Labour Commission (NLC) have asked the Minister of Manpower Development, Youth and Employment, Nana Akomea to see to the early establishment of the National Tripartite Committee in line with the Labour Law.

The law requires the formation of the 16-member committee to be made up of five representatives each from government, labour and employers and chaired by the Minister. Names of the members of the committee are also to be made known to the public.

In separate meetings with the Minister, who was on familiarisation tour to the two organisations, officials of the two bodies stressed the importance of constituting the Committee to enhance good industrial relations practice.

Mr. Kofi Asamoah, Deputy General Secretary of the TUC, said it was sad that almost three years after the promulgation of the law, government had not found it expedient to establish the Committee, whose mandate had been expanded beyond the determination of minimum wages. Touching on the work of the NLC, Mr. Asamoah said stakeholders were disturbed that the Commission was not playing its role effectively because of budgetary and administrative constraints.

He said the Commission had been unable to establish regional offices for workers who might want to seek redress from the Commission, saying that for now affected workers with petitions must travel to Accra.

Besides, the absence of a full-time Executive Secretary was also affecting the work of the Commission.

Mr. Asamoah said the budgetary and administrative needs of the NLC must be met to enable it to perform its task creditably. Other concerns of the TUC include the frequent changes of Ministers of Employment, which, officials said, did not permit decisions to be followed.

Mr. Joseph Aryitey, Chairman of the NLC, said the Commission was unable to enforce its rulings in court when parties reneged on the agreements reached because of budgetary constraints. Currently the Commission is unable to enforce over 100 of its rulings at the courts for lack of funds.

Mr. Aryitey mentioned problems of accommodation, lack of police presence at the office and budgetary allocation for the Commission as issues that required immediate attention.

He told the Minister that their appeal for Police presence at the office had so far fallen on deaf ears.

Nana Akomea said his visit was to strengthen and deepen the existing relationship and to enable stakeholders to work as partners to avoid disputes and ensure harmonious relationship. He said the government was keen in setting up the Fair Wages Commission to help resolve the inequalities in wage administration, which had been a major cause of disagreements at the labour front. Nana Akomea assured the officials of constant dialogue to enable them to deal with problems that might arise.