Elmina C/R, April 18, GNA - The Minister of Manpower Development and Employment, Mr Yaw Barimah on Friday said a harmonious industrial relations environment was a prerequisite for economic development. He said industrial democracy could only be achieved when members of the Tripartite Committee strengthen social dialogue.

Mr Barimah, who was closing a three-day national sensitisation workshop on the Labour Act 2003, Act 651 at Elmina, said labour played a crucial role in the operationalisation of the new Act, which would attract both local and foreign investors and thereby promote employment generation.

He said the workshop, which was sponsored by USAID, had deepened the partnership of the members of the Tripartite Committee and expressed the hope that the desire of the social partners to accept change would facilitate the implementation of the Act

He commended the participants at the workshop for identifying areas of possible conflict in operationalising the regulatory institution provided under the Act and urged the social partners to nominate their representatives to the national labour committee.

Professor Kofi Kumado, facilitator of the workshop, urged the partners to change their attitude towards each other and build on a new concept based on conciliatory. He said the vocabulary and language in industrial relations should change to reflect the new spirit of partnership.

The workshop was under the theme: "Promoting social dialogue through partnership."