Kumasi, April 29, GNA - The Ashanti Regional Zongo Caucus of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), on Friday, sent a good will message to Ghanaian workers ahead of the May Day celebration. The caucus lauded workers for their hard work, dedication and commitment, which had kept the economy going. It said their loyalty and significant contribution had helped to put the nation on the path of progress.

The message was jointly signed by Alhaji Othman Yahya and Alhaji Alhassan Ibn Ibrahim, the Regional Coordinator and Secretary, respectively and issued in Kumasi. The Caucus drew attention to the need for improved working conditions and also creating a safe working environment, to increase productivity and reduce occupational hazards. It appealed to workers to use dialogue to address their grievances, pointing out that, labour unrest could have long-term negative effects on an emerging economy like that of Ghana's. They should also eschew lukewarm attitude to work, drunkenness, pilfering, discrimination and other malpractices, likely to erode the gains made over the years. The workers would join their counterparts worldwide to celebrate the event, which is set aside to take stock of the contribution of labour to socio-economic development.

May Day has its origin in America when the Federation of Organized Trades and Labour Unions in 1884 passed a resolution at their meeting that all legal ways for their demand to reduce the working hours from 16 to eight had failed and therefore decided to go on strike. In the course of time, the Day became the most important day for labour movements and is now celebrated throughout the world. Records have it that it was first observed on May 1, 1890, in memory of innocent martyrs of the labour movements.