Takoradi, April 2, - GNA - Mrs. Patience Diaba, a women rights activist and lawyer said Parliament must as a matter of urgency enact the Legislative Instrument (L.I.) accompanying the new Labour Law, Act 651.

She said this would allow many people the opportunity to seek redress and spell out the mode of lodging complaints and fully utilise the law to their benefit.

Mrs. Diaba said these in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) at Takoradi on Friday.

She said the law makes several provisions for women, including maternity, annual, sick and study leave and women should take advantage of such provisions.

Mrs Diaba stressed that according to the new law, it was illegal and unfair for any employer to refuse to allow its female staff from enjoying such periods and it would be against the law for any employer to coerce four-month-old pregnant staff to work overtime or at night.

"However if employers wish to engage their staff even during their leave, their consent must be sought first," she added.

Mrs Diaba said there was the need for regional branches of the Labour Commission to be established to enable people to report labour abuses.

She however, cautioned women not to use excessive excuses to absent themselves from work since such attitudes could affect the chances of other women in the future.