NLC criticises MOH and health workers on impasse

Accra, May 3, GNA - The National Labour Commission (NLC) on Thursday criticised the Ministry of Health and the Health Workers' Group for various steps that had culminated in the strike by the workers. This was contained in a letter signed by Mr K. Danso-Acheampong, Deputy Chairperson, to the Minster of Health and the Health Workers' Group after its meeting on May 2.

The letter said: "The Commission finds the Ministry of Health's inability to go by the timetable conscientiously agreed upon in relation to the release of the Appellate Body's Report at the parties' meeting with the Commission very unhelpful."

It said the Ministry of Health as the ultimate employer of the workers must come out without further delay on what its final position was on the demands being made by the Health Workers' Group. On the Health Workers' Group, the NLC said their strike action was not in conformity with the Labour Act 2003 and therefore asked them to call it off immediately. "The actions of all employers and workers must be guided by the apt statement of His Lordship the late Justice Asamoah in the NAGRAT case that 'legitimate right cannot be pursued using illegitimate means'. "That means all parties in industrial relations - organised labour, employers and government are obliged to make every reasonable effort to reach agreement in their dispute settlement by negotiating in good faith in order to realise the object of creating harmonious industrial relations environment in Ghana."

The NLC said it needed the maximum cooperation of all parties to industrial relations to succeed in its mission of developing and sustaining harmonious and peaceful industrial relations atmosphere and that it would continuously be guided by the Labour Act 2003 in its functions.