Regional News of Saturday, 1 May 2010

Source: GNA

Government is on course to better the lot of all workers- Benyiwa-Doe

Cape Coast, May 1, GNA-The Central Regional Minister, Mrs. Ama Benyiwa-Doe on Saturday gave the assurance that the government was on course and would promote workers' cause to ensure their welfare as it executes the better Ghana agenda.

At this year's regional May Day celebration on the theme "Consolidating worker solidarity and legacy of Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah" at the Jubilee Park in Cape Coast, Mrs Benyiwa-Doe noted that it was in that direction that the government was committed to the implementation of the Single Spine Salary Structure (SSSS)."

She urged workers to compliment government's efforts by working harder and asked organized labour to help solve all issues emanating from the labour front by endeavouring to use dialogue to forestall preventable labour unrests

"It is my conviction that we should be able to use dialogue to resolve all labour related disputes amicably through negotiation and constructive dialogue".

On the SSSS, the Minister stressed the need for the policy to be cleared of all disputes before its implementation in July and urged all labour organizations to liaise with the policy implementation committee to solve issues affecting their organizations.

Mrs. Benyiwa-Doe paid tribute to all Ghanaian workers for their hard work and dedication adding, the government was committed to human resource development and will do all in its power to achieve that. She in this regard urged them to upgrade themselves to improve upon their performance and step up productivity to help accelerate the development of the country.

Mr. Samuel Doughan, Regional Secretary of the Trades Union Congress (TUC), said the unemployment rate worldwide was alarming and also expressed concern about the behaviour of some labour experts who by their activities downplay the potency of trade union organizations. He stressed that "these so called experts who sometimes act as consultants cannot replace the role organized labour play". Mr. Doughan called for unity and solidarity among all workers in the country to form a formidable front for them to achieve their common objective.

Earlier the workers who spotted "T" and polar shirts with inscriptions of their unions embossed on them, matched from the Mfantsipim School Junction through the principal streets of the Cape Coast Metropolis amidst brass band music.