ICU-Ghana demands end to precarious work

The Industrial and Commercial Workers’ Union of Ghana (ICU-Ghana) has called for stronger global and national efforts to end precarious work, particularly in Africa, where casual and contract labour continues to undermine workers’ rights and dignity.

In a statement issued to mark the World Day for Decent Work, observed annually on 7 October, the union decried the growing trend of outsourcing, fixed-term and casual employment arrangements that deprive millions of workers of basic rights and social protection.

General Secretary of ICU-Ghana, Morgan Ayawine, emphasised that while the union welcomes investments and job creation by multinational and transnational corporations, it will not tolerate the exploitation of Ghanaian workers under substandard employment practices.

“Exploitation and discrimination under outsourcing (casual/contract) work regimes have placed millions of workers in servitude. It is heart-wrenching to see two people in the same establishment doing the same jobs, but one enjoys social protection benefits like paid leave, social security contributions and healthcare, while the other does not,” he stated.

Mr Ayawine emphasised that the growing dominance of outsourcing and casualisation is undermining the protection of workers’ rights at an alarming rate and debasing workers’ dignity, stressing that such practices contravene International Labour Organisation (ILO) conventions on decent work.

The union noted that in many multinational and transnational companies operating in Ghana, contract and casual workers now outnumber permanent employees, even though they perform the same tasks and work equal hours.

The increasing conversion of permanent roles into temporary or fixed-term contracts is eroding job security and worsening economic inequality. Job scarcity, the statement said, has forced many workers to endure poor working conditions and low pay for fear of losing their livelihoods.

ICU-Ghana is calling for a renewed commitment from all social partners, including government, employers and unions, to tackle precarious work through stronger legislation, enforcement and education.

Since the inception of the World Day for Decent Work in 2008, labour unions and workers’ rights advocates have intensified efforts to spotlight exploitative employment practices. Precarious work, commonly found in outsourcing arrangements, casual or contract labour and fixed-term contracts is a rapidly spreading phenomenon, especially among transnational and multinational corporations operating in Africa.

While ICU-Ghana acknowledges the job creation potential of foreign direct investment, the union warns that this should not come at the cost of workers’ rights.

ICU-Ghana reiterated its solidarity with global labour movements in pushing for an end to exploitative work practices, calling for policies that ensure all working people can work in dignity and enjoy the fruits of their labour, both now and after retirement.