Turbulent industrial times ahead -TUC

Accra, May 1, GNA - Organised labour on Tuesday warned of turbulent industrial times ahead if government and employers did not address the growing demands for better incomes in an appropriate manner. Addressing this year's gathering of workers at the Independence Square to mark May Day celebrations, Mr Kwasi Adu-Amankwah, Secretary-General of the Trades Union Congress, said the persisting gross inequalities in incomes was a demonstration that labour was not getting its fair share of the results of its contribution to nation building.

He noted that the trend did not augur well for economic and social stability. Mr Adu-Amankwah therefore called on the social partners in industrial relations, particularly government, to invest more in genuine social dialogue and collective bargaining to ensure that they could promote peaceful industrial relations and the orderly settlement of disputes.

The National May Day marked on the theme: "Labour and Nation Building: 50 Years and Beyond," was attended by President John Agyekum Kufuor, Vice-President Alhaji Aliu Mahama, Ministers of State, Members of the Diplomatic Corps and other dignitaries.

Mr Adu-Amankwah, who noted that the country's experience had shown that growth in the economy would not automatically reduce income inequality, reiterated organized labour's position of the payment of a living wage as a means of reducing the present salary inequalities.

"We urge our social partners to commit themselves to the determination of the living wage not only as a poverty reducing measure but also as a means of motivating workers to increase productivity," he said. While acknowledging support for the ongoing public sector pay reforms, the TUC Secretary-General made it clear that organized labour's participation in the process was based purely on the expectation that it would not only lead to a significant improvement in salaries for public sector workers but also address the widening inequities.

Mr Adu-Amankwah said although the economy had achieved positive economic growth in the last 15 years, culminating in decline in interest rates, inflation, and exchange stability, these achievements did not reflect in the living standards of the people.

He suggested the creation of jobs to reduce "the chronic poverty" in the country.

Currently, over seven million out of the estimated nine million people in the labour force are employed in the informal sector. Mr Adu-Amankwah lauded the on-going National Youth Employment Programme, saying it was a step in the right direction. He said organized labour was conducting a survey to gather information from the youth themselves on their perceptions about the labour market to enable it to make input into the implementation and review of the programme. Mr Adu-Amankwah urged government to take a look at its trade policy to make it consistent with the country's employment policies.

"As long as we continue to open doors to all kinds of goods which we can produce domestically, our young men and women will continue to be unemployed," he said.

The Secretary-General therefore cautioned the government to tread cautiously and not to succumb to pressure from European Union (EU) to sign the Economic Partnership Agreement between ECOWAS and the EU in its present form.

"In our view, the proposed agreement has the potential to erode gains that have been made with regard to employment creation and revenue collection for government."

He therefore called on government to involve the private sector, organized labour and other stakeholders in developing its position with respect to various issues currently under negotiation.

On the power crisis, Mr Adu-Amankwah said it had exposed the weakness of the country's infrastructural base to support a higher rate of economic growth and employment creation.

He urged government to announce clear and concrete plans for dealing with the power crisis without further delay.

Earlier, workers defied the early morning heat and went on a procession from the Nkrumah Circle through Adabraka, UTC and High Street before finally converging at the Independence Square.

Some of the workers carried placards, which read, "Solve the Energy Crisis," President, Ghana Consolidated Diamond Workers are Dying," 50 Years of Light Off. Why?"