The Ghana Mineworkers Union has called on the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations to step in and address the poor working conditions of contract workers in the mining sector.
According to the Union, the lack of effective legislation to regulate the prevalence of contract workers in the various mining companies has led to widespread abuse.
[contextly_sidebar id=”vIVtZWgqkLCt1XXXFc1fkhxDRF3EfvuC”]The Mineworkers union in a statement signed by its Deputy General Secretary, Abdul Moomin Gbana, is also calling on the Employment Ministry to equip the labour department of the Ministry by employing a sizeable number of labour inspectors and equipping them with the requisite logistics to work effectively.
“Take steps to initiate and tighten legislation on contract employment in the country in order to eradicate the continuous abuse of workers through these emerging forms of employment.”
“Take steps to strengthen the capacity of the labour Department by employing more labour inspectors and equipping them with the appropriate logistics to effectively perform their mandate in line with the Labour Act 651.”
The Union bemoaned what it described as the ‘fast-increasing rate of contract work in Ghana’ adding that its consequence is not only negatively affecting the incomes and pensions of the workers but also has the potential to impact negatively on the country’s economy.
“Sadly, the fast-increasing rate of contract work in Ghana and its consequences is not only affecting incomes and pensions at the personal level; this phenomenon regrettably also has the potential to impact negatively on our already ailing economy both on the short and long run.”
The comments by the Ghana Mineworkers Union comes on the back of a spate of recent clashes at the Ghana Bauxite Limited at Awaso in the Bibiani–Anyaaso- Bekwai Municipality of the newly created Western Region, after aggrieved staff of the company, set vehicles and other property of the company on fire on June 17, 2019.
The workers were protesting poor working conditions and meagre salaries, and are also reported to have set ablaze several offices including that of the Human Resource Manager.
The Union who also condemned their members for the violent clashes, called for the feuding factions to immediately resume processes to find long-lasting solutions to the impasse.
The leadership of the Workers Union also called on their members to stay safe and avoid actions and inactions that could further fuel tensions and escalate matters.
“In conclusion, whilst we do not condone the actions of these contract workers, we sympathize with their plight as working people and consequently call on all feuding parties to ceasefire whiles immediate steps are taken to resume negotiations.”
“We also want to appeal to our members (the mainstream workers of Ghana Bauxite Company) to stay safe and avoid any tendencies that have the potential to further escalate tensions.”
Below are excerpts of the Press Statement
The attention of the Ghana Mineworkers’ Union has been drawn to an on-going impasse between employees of some contract firms working for Ghana Bauxite Company and their host, Ghana Bauxite Company Limited, over poor working conditions, therefore threatening the safety and security of other workers and causing destruction to property.
We are aware that a couple of months ago these contract employees who are members of the Construction Workers Union of the Trades Union Congress (Ghana) entered into salary negotiations with these contract firms following incessant calls and several complaints about their poor working conditions. These negotiations we are told have progressed quite smoothly until the unfortunate development on Monday, June 18, 2019.
Whilst we are not privy to the full details surrounding the impasse, we are certainly not oblivious of the precarious conditions most contract workers in Ghana find themselves. Indeed, in most cases, these contract workers are paid very low wages (sometimes below the National Minimum Wage), faced with insecurity of their jobs, they work long hours, they are often denied pension contributions, and mostly compelled to work under very bizarre physical conditions.
As a country committed to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), particularly Goal 8 on Decent Work for which reason the current Government set up an SDG Desk, we believe that efforts must be intensified and indeed, immediate steps are taken to forestall the continuous exploitation of Ghanaian workers amidst the Government’s effort to curb rising unemployment in the country.
Minister advises Ghana Bauxite Company to halt operations
The Lands and Natural Resources Minister, Kweku Asomah Cheremeh has asked the Bauxite Mining Company in Awaso to halt operations for now following violent protest by the staff.
“We have assured the bauxite company that the confidence we have in them as the company doing bauxite is very high but for now they should exercise restraint from going back to the field as security on the ground is not all that safe. We have few police officers around there who will be needed to beef up security by bringing more security,” he said.
The Minister further said the government is engaging the workers to find a way forward and resolve the matter.
This is not the first time workers of the Bauxite Mining Company had protested over conditions of service.
Some of the workers in March 2019 threatened to walk off the job unless their working conditions are improved.