Accra, Nov. 1, GNA- The Ghana Labour College on Saturday held its 8th Graduation ceremony in Accra with a call on labour activists to continue to strive for the respect for labour laws and rights of workers.

In all, 15 graduants were awarded certificates of participation in the 22-week sandwich programme in Labour Studies. Mr Kofi Asamoah, Secretary of the Ghana Trade Union Congress said continuous training was key to upgrade the skills of trade and labour activist to adapt to global dynamisms in fighting for the rights of workers.

He said upgrading one's skills was also necessary to secure one's job against retrenchment, which was often used by employers to get unskilled workers out of their way and employ those abreast with modern trends.

He therefore asked workers not to be only concerned about improved remuneration, but must also brace themselves up for any training opportunities that exist in their work places.

Mr Asamaoh also urged the graduating class to take up the challenge to fight against any attempt by an employer to prevent workers from either joining a labour movement of forming one. " You should also work to help achieve the desire for decent work which focuses on greater employment opportunities, respect for rights, opportunities for family development and gender equality and so on," he added.

Mr David Kwabla Dorkenoo, Principal of the College, explained that the College, affiliated to the University of Cape Coat (UCC) had the mandate to provide training to capable leaders to help contribute to the advancement of the labour movement in the country.

He commended the graduating class for exhibiting a high sense of maturity during their course and charged them to apply the knowledge acquired to help make an impact at their work places. He also expressed the hope to improve facilities in the college to enable it provide effective teaching and learning and appealed to corporate bodies to also support them.

Mr Dorkenoo further called on all corporate institutions to sponsor their employees to come for labour studies, since labour issues should not be the concern of only labour activists but any industrial enterprise.

The graduants were presented with certificates of participation but their academic certificates would be presented to them at the UCC's forthcoming congregation. 01 Nov. 08