Labour Commission receieved 775 complaints

Thursday, January 13, 2011

THE National Labour Commission (NLC) did, from January to November 2010, receive 775 complaints/petitions.
Out of the figure, 414 were settled, with 361 of them currently at various levels of settlement at the NLC.
Cases that go before the commission involve disputes related to summary dismissals, termination of appointments, retirement benefits/end-of-service benefits, unpaid salaries, workmen compensation, redundancy and severance pay, non-payment of social security contributions and non-compliance with signed agreements.
A report from the Ministry of Employment and Social Welfare indicated that in addition, 23 cases were settled as the High Court, while four cases were settled as the Court of Appeal.
The report also pointed that the total payment by respondents to petitioners through the commission was GH¢320,727.51.
According to the report, a number of strikes were, however, witnessed during the period, including workers of Maersk Limited, the local union of the Songhor Salt Project and the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT).
Others were the Polytechnic Teachers Association of Ghana (POTAG), the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) and the Junior Nurses of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital.
The report, however, indicated that through negotiations, those industrial actions were resolved.
The NLC was established under Section 135 of the Labour Act, 2003 (Act 651).
It is to develop and sustain a peaceful and harmonious industrial relations environment through the use of effective dispute resolution practices within the context of the law, promote co-operation among labour market players and mutual respect for their rights and responsibilities.
On employment, the report said the Labour Department was able to secure job placement for 3,078 jobs seekers who registered under its National Employment Service.
The department, according to the report, registered eight trade unions and received 13 collective bargaining agreements (CBAs) concluded between employers and trade unions.
Within the period between January and December 2010, 49 CBAs were issued to trade unions, 140 labour inspections were completed and also 314 workmen’s compensations cases involving public sector workers were received and an amount of GH¢1,207,217.07 paid to beneficiaries.