General News of Thursday, 2 May 2019

Source: ghananewsagency.org

Workers want government to resolve labour concerns

Paulina Patience Abayage Paulina Patience Abayage

Some Ghanaian workers have called on the government to implement realistic policies that seek to address the working conditions of the workers in the country to increase productivity.

They said the working conditions for most Ghanaian workers were not motivational enough to ensure effective and efficient delivery to contribute significantly to the growth of the economy.

This, they, therefore, called on the government to resolve all concerns confronting the labour front including; pension issues to enable them to deliver quality services to ensure sustainable development in all sectors.

They expressed these concerns through placards when the various labour unions joined the rest of the world to commemorate the labour Day in Bolgatanga, the Upper East Regional Capital.

It was organised by Organized Labour of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) on Wednesday, on the theme, “Sustainable Pension for All: the role of social partners”.

Some of the inscriptions on the placards read “Equal work, Equal pay”, “Allow workers to control retirement”, “government, pay NEDCo its debts”, “provide incentives for rural midwives”, “motivate midwives to reduce maternal and infant mortality” among others.

Speaking at the celebration, Madam Paulina Patience Abayage, the Upper East Regional Minister, indicated that government was working to address all issues confronting workers in the country to improve on their living conditions to propel development.

She said the concerns regarding the new pension scheme was being addressed by the government through the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) and the National Pensions Regulatory Authority (NPRA) to make workers happy and comfortable.

“As a worker too, it is my hope to see all pension issues addressed to bring about higher productivity in our work, minimise corruption significantly and help develop our country Ghana faster and this will also give pensioners healthy minds in their old age,” the Regional Minister said.

Madam Abayage, while congratulating the workers for their invaluable contributions to the growth of the economy, admonished them to continue to be effective and efficient to ensure sustainable development.

“The Regional Minister stated, “I salute you for your contributions at your respective workplaces and ask you to continue to do better to improve our country’s economy.

“As we are all aware, every country’s growth and development depends largely on the quality, effectiveness and efficiency of its labour force and I have no doubt that our country’s labour front is one of the finest.

“I, therefore, urge all of us not to relent in our efforts as labour in giving out our best for the development of our dear country.”