New labour law
-To be enacted by end of this year – Prez Akufo-Addo
By Daniel NONOR, Accra
Government is on the verge of enacting a new comprehensive and contemporary labour law that protects the interests of all actors in the labour force in the country.
The new law, when enacted, will, among other things, propose substantial changes to the structure, architecture, and judicial functions of the National Labor Commission (NLC).
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, who announced this at the 2024 National May Day Parade at the Independence Square in Accra, said that with the cooperation of parliament, the new labor Act can be promulgated before the end of this year.
He emphasized that the new law would be the most concrete act of gratitude on his part to the leadership and members of this generation of organized labor who have proved to be so responsible in their stewardship.
“During challenging times, organized labor has shared the burden of government and made sacrifices that ensure recovery and stability.
“The least I can do for the over 11.5 million people in the labor force and the next generation is to enact a new Labor Act that is comprehensive and contemporary and protects the interests of all actors in the world of work.”
He emphasized that since assuming office in 2017, the support, cooperation, and collaboration he has received and enjoyed from organized labor have been nothing short of extraordinary. Furthermore, he said the government is also providing state-of-the-art infrastructure for labor administrative institutions to enable them to deliver effectively on their mandates.
In furtherance of this, some 60 motorbikes and 17 pick-up vehicles have been procured by the government to enhance the mobility of labor officers across the country.
Public employment centers
Furthermore, 16 new public employment centers are being constructed, and some 40 others would be renovated across the country to give enhanced visibility to and encourage patronage of the labor department’s activities.
“Through these investments, the government will soon strengthen its early warning system to detect any potential conflicts or labor disputes that may arise,” the President noted.
Dumsor is over
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo also announced that the challenges that have occasioned the recent erratic power supply plaguing businesses across the country have been resolved, thus expressing optimism that the dreaded phenomenon popularly termed “dumsor” was now a thing of the past.
“For the past seven years, we have worked tirelessly to keep the lights on, and I am confident that the unfortunate era of dumsor will not return.”
He explained that over the period, the issues surrounding transformers and gas supply have been successfully resolved, resulting in sufficient improvement in power supply reliability. “Indeed, over the past few days, we have witnessed stable electricity supply across the country with no load-shedding reported anywhere yesterday,” the president said.
He extended gratitude to the citizens for their patience and cooperation during the trying times.
“I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to Ghanaians for their patience and understanding during recent temporary challenges with electricity supply across the country.
Workers urged to peaceful electoral process
President Akufo-Addo also reminded Ghanaian workers of the crucial role they play in shaping the country’s future through their active involvement in the electoral processes of the country, emphasizing the importance of maintaining peace and order before, during, and after the 2014 general elections.
He emphasized that elections are the cornerstone of democracy, providing the platform for the expression of the popular will and for the peaceful transfer of power when required.
However, they also have the potential to divide rather than unite if not conducted in a peaceful and transparent manner.
He added that the theme for this year’s May Day celebrations – Election 2024, the role of workers and social partners in securing peaceful elections for national development – underscores the pivotal role that the citizenry has to play in ensuring that the electoral process is free, fair, transparent, and devoid of violence. “Indeed the destiny of the nation hinges upon the collective of workers and social partners to safeguard our democratic principles and uphold the rule of law,” he emphasized.
President Akufo-Addo assured Ghanaians of the government’s commitment to ensuring that the upcoming general peaceful and credible, drawing on the peaceful conduct observed during the just-ended Ejisu by-elections as evidence.
He encouraged workers to vote for candidates who promote social inclusivity and unity rather than those who seek to divide the nation, stressing the significance of policies that bring people together. “
“Like in previous ones, Ghana will once again emerge stronger, more united, and more capable and advancing development goals.
“Workers as the backbone of our country have a special role to play in shaping our elections. Your voices matter, your participation is essential,” he said.
TUC calls on govt to ease economic hardship
The Secretary-General of the Trade Unions Congress, Dr. Anthony Yaw Baah, on his part called on the government to accelerate efforts at easing the economic hardship faced by the working class across the country.
He said Ghana was celebrating workers’ day at a time when Ghanaian workers and their families are grappling with high costs of living, inflation, and exchange rates.
As a result, he noted that, for example, a worker who earned a monthly salary of a thousand Ghana cedis in 2016, the equivalent of $250, is today earning $71 due to the depreciation of the cedi over the period.
“The depreciation of the cedi at this monumental scale, about 250 percent depreciation, represents a huge decline in the living standards of Ghanaians generally and workers in particular.”
This he attributed to the over-reliance on imported goods such as medicines, refined petroleum products, and food.
He called on all workers to work to sustain the peace of the country.
