Akim Oda (E/R), July 28, GNA - The General Secretary of the Timber and Wood Workers Union (TWU), Mr Joshua Ansah has observed that, an enlightened workforce in any country is an assert to that society, as that will enhance the overall economic growth and productive potentials of that nation. He said trade union education therefore, played a very important role in "developing economics such as ours", adding that, effective and healthy trade unionism based on trained and skilled union representatives and officers was a significant factor in promoting social development.

Mr. Ansah was closing a five-day workshop on Occupational, Health, Safety and Environmental (OHSE) issues in forestry, at Akim Oda, organized for 20 newly elected branch union officers and 20 women activists of TWU.

The programme, which was organized by the International Federation of Building and Wood Workers (IFBWW), Geneva and TWU was aimed at creating the increasing awareness about health and safety among the participants at their various work places.

Mr Ansah said the strategies of the union would be the promotion of union involvement in workplace inspection, the formation of OHSE committees at all work places and sensitisation of all national officers and negotiators.

The Africa Education Co-ordinator of IFBWW, Miss Inviolata Chinyangarara said, globalisation has resulted in workers in the building, construction, wood and forestry job being more vulnerable to exploitation, violation of human and trade union right. She said informal work and the marginalisation of workers, including women and migrant workers continued to create unstable and unsafe jobs conditions, adding that, " this has brought new challenges to the affiliate of the IFBWW."

Miss Chinyangarara said the union affiliates were therefore, committed to work together to help build a strong democratic and global trade union movement, promote and implement global labour standards and defend human and trade union rights.

The Eastern Regional Principal Industrial Relations Officer, Mr. Nathaniel Mensah, called on the participants to impact the knowledge they have acquired to their fellow workers and also to ensure that they put them into practice.