General News of Monday, 2 January 2012

Source: GNA

Decentralize NLC - ICU

The Industrial and Commercial Workers Union (ICU) has urged Government to establish District and Regional offices of the National Labour Commission (NLC) to ensure efficient and speedy adjudication of labour issues.

Mr Morgan Ayawine, Acting Deputy General Secretary of ICU in charge of operations made the call in a New Year resolution on behalf of the Union in Tema.

He pointed out that unless something was done about the situation some stakeholders, especially labour unions and their members would continue to express their disappointment and lack of confidence in the Commission.

Mr Ayawine said overwhelmed with cases and other challenges the NLC set up with the responsibilities to adjudicate labour related issues and conflicts to ensure industrial peace and harmony, should be adequately resourced to give of it best.

He regretted that day in day out conditions of workers continued to worsen in spite of their commitment and enormous sacrifices towards the progress of workplace productivity and particularly the economic development of the nation.

Mr Ayawine reiterated the call for immediate reconvening of the Tripartite Committee, consisting of organised labour, employers and government to determine a living wage for Ghana.

While urging the working people of this country to remain committed to their work and strive to work hard to ensure increase productivity, Mr Ayawine reminded employers that in order to achieve such goals and objectives, they should create the environment that would not only motivate and reward workers but also involved them in decision making and implementation processes.

On politics, the Acting Deputy General Secretary said it was regrettable that Ghanaians had had to witness politics of insult in their worse form this year instead of rejoicing over what politicians had been able to do for the electorate, who voted them into power.

“We must play clean politics and avoid insults of personalities and parties during and after the upcoming elections.”

Mr Ayawine charged the Electoral Commission to put in place the needed mechanisms that would help create a level playing field to ensure free, transparent and fair election in 2012.

“We should as a country continue to be the champion of democracy in Africa, and should therefore not do anything to burn our country because of politics.”

The ICU, he said, condemned the manner in which fuel prices were increased few days ago last year when Ghanaians could not even afford to spend a good Christmas”.