Accra, Jan. 20, GNA - Ghana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) on Wednesday launched a manual designed to guide operations of union organizers in the informal sector. It is entitled "Legal and Social Protection for Informal Economy Workers in Ghana". The 54-page manual which touches on the legal and social protection for workers in the informal sector, hopes to fill work deficits, including social security, medical care and legal agreements in appointments. The first section deals with the legal protection for workers and includes topics such as freedom of association, job security, remunerations, negotiations, collective agreement to workers and employees' duties and rights. The second section deals with social protection on issues relating to pension, reforms in pension systems and the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).

Mr. Emmanuel A. Akuffo, Chief Director of Ministry of Employment and Social Welfare, who launched the manual in Accra said the informal sector contributed immensely to the national economy but lacked certain structures such as reliable pension schemes. "Due to their contribution there is the need to develop this manual to guide and help regularize their operations as well as secure their future during old age," he said. Mr. Akuffo said although the national minimum wage was about GH¢2.25, about 50 per cent of workers in the informal sector earned less than that amount.

Dr Anthony Yaw Baah, Acting General Secretary of GTUC, said the 1992 Constitution and labour laws in the country guaranteed social and legal protection for workers in both the informal and formal sectors. These are right to fair wages and joining associations, but most workers in the informal sector do not enjoy these rights due to unofficial employment relationship in the sector. He said the lack of social and legal protection for workers in the informal sector had contributed to the low level of unionization among workers in that sector. Dr Baah noted that, GTUC would assist organize workers in the informal sector and empower them to exercise and demand their

rights as citizens.