By Kodjo Adams, GNA
Accra, Feb.27, GNA – Mr Henz Beers, Labour Expert, PUM Netherlands, a non-governmental organisation, has urged Labour unions to prioritise the use of social dialogue with employers to enhance industrial harmony.
He said social dialogue was an effective mechanism for adapting to changes and smooth management of crises for employers and employees.
Mr Beers said this on Thursday in Accra at a workshop with stakeholders in education.
The workshop is organised by the Teachers and Educational Workers’ Union (TEWU) on the theme: “Social Dialogue for Industrial Harmony, Growth and Productivity”.
The workshop brought together representatives from the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission, Ghana Education Service, Trade Union Congress and stakeholders in the education sector.
Mr Beers underscored the importance of social dialogue in creating a win-win situation, cooperation, sectoral stability, and good labour conditions in a safe environment.
“In the Netherlands, employers’ organisations and trade unions operate social dialogue as a successful model and methodology for sectoral cooperation with the legal authorities, including the government,” he said.
Trade unionism, he said, had gone beyond demonstrations and strikes to effective dialogue in addressing labour unions’ concerns.
Mr Beers noted that social dialogue ensured open constructive relations between employees, unions and the government for good governance.
“Social dialogue is an instrument for negotiation and achieving Collective Bargaining Agreement, helping other countries to overcome crisis,” he said.
One of the barriers for social dialogue was trust between employers, unions and the government, he noted, calling for the need to explore the power of negotiations to address the issue.
Madam Salamatu Mahama Braimah, National Chairperson, TEWU, said the collaboration with PUM was to deepen their knowledge in social dialogue to guide the operations of the Union.
She called on stakeholders to work together for quality education and a better future for workers.
King James Azortibah, the General Secretary, TEWU, said social dialogue was the modern trend of unionism because it created opportunities for tripartite interaction for amicable dispute resolution.
GNA
Edited by Agnes Boye-Doe