Tema: The International Labour Organisation (ILO) has held a high-level corporate national dialogue for the realisation of decent work in Ghana in multinational enterprises (MNE).
According to Ghana News Agency, the dialogue was held on the theme 'Promoting Sustainable, Responsible and Inclusive Business Practices in Ghanaian Industries.' It brought together state agencies such as the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC), Ministry of Labour, Jobs and Employment and Labour Office, workers unions, and private enterprises to discuss the critical aspects of decent work in the country.
Mr. David Marcos, Project Manager for the Productivity Ecosystems for Decent Work, highlighted the importance of trade to a country's development, emphasizing that no nation has prospered by isolating itself. He underscored the importance of decent work to the ILO, noting that without it, multinational enterprises would struggle to access international markets.
Mr. Marcos cited a past incident in the textile industry in Bangladesh, where the lack of decent work conditions led to a tragedy resulting in around 1,000 deaths, nearly collapsing the industry. This example served as a reminder of the importance of decent work standards.
During a panel discussion, union representatives raised concerns about the maltreatment of workers by some multinational enterprises. It was noted that multinational enterprises are required to transfer technical skills to Ghanaians and employ local workers, but challenges such as a lack of requisite skills among locals and language barriers between management and state agencies were identified.
Participants called for state agencies that attract investors to Ghana to inform them about the nation's laws and the importance of protecting workers before granting operational licenses. They also urged agencies responsible for enforcing laws and inspecting factories to perform regular inspections to safeguard the rights of Ghanaian workers.
The panel included notable figures such as Madam Joyce Abdulai, Senior Human Resource Officer, GIPC; Mr. Francis Bibuksi, Assistant Chief Labour Officer; Mr. Kenneth Koomson, Deputy Secretary General of the Ghana Federation of Labour; Mr. Abdul-Moomin Gbana, General Secretary of the Ghana Mine Workers Union; and Mr. Theodore Mawuli Amezah, Senior Planning Officer at the Ministry of Labour, Jobs and Employment.
