By Solomon Gumah
Tamale, Aug 28, GNA – The Northern Regional Programme Office of ActionAid Ghana has engaged operators of informal sector businesses in the Northern Region on labour rights, gender equality and decent working conditions.
The engagement, organised in collaboration with the Departments of Labour and Gender and the National Youth Authority (NYA), among others, brought together representatives of 30 informal sector businesses including hotels, restaurants, private schools and drinking spots.
It was aimed at promoting awareness of labour rights and responsibilities, gender equality and compliance with Ghana’s labour laws to foster more equitable and decent working environments.
Madam Alia Mumuni, Programme Officer at ActionAid Ghana, speaking during the event in Tamale, said the engagement formed part of the organisation’s commitment to empowering women and young people, many of whom were employed in the informal sector.
She underscored the need for regular engagement between employers and employees on their rights and responsibilities to promote fairness and harmonious working relationships.
Madam Mumuni emphasised that creating awareness of labour rights was essential to ensuring that both employers and workers understood their obligations and contributed to productive and harmonious working environments.
Mr Mustapha Alhassan, Acting Northern Regional Labour Officer said workers had several rights guaranteed under Ghana’s labour laws including the right to safe, satisfactory and healthy working conditions.
He said workers were also entitled to equal pay for equal work, rest and leisure, reasonable working hours, paid annual leave and remuneration for public holidays.
He added that workers had the right to form or join trade unions, receive training and develop their skills as well as obtain information relevant to their work.
Mr Alhassan stressed that awareness of those rights was particularly important in the informal sector where many workers might not have adequate knowledge of the protections available to them under the law.
He also highlighted provisions protecting women workers saying a woman worker was entitled to at least 12 weeks of maternity leave.
He explained that maternity leave was in addition to applicable annual leave and that during the period, the worker was entitled to full remuneration and other employment benefits.
He said the protection was also supported by Article 27 of the 1992 Constitution, which required special care to be accorded mothers for a reasonable period before and after childbirth and provided for paid leave for working mothers during those periods.
He encouraged employers to respect maternity rights and create conditions that would enable women to participate fully in the world of work without discrimination or unfair treatment because of pregnancy or childbirth.
Mr Alhassan emphasised that labour rights were not exclusively about workers, adding that employers also had rights and responsibilities recognised under the Labour Act.
He said employers had the right to employ, discipline, transfer, promote and terminate workers in accordance with the law.
He urged employers and workers to understand the law and exercise their respective rights responsibly to avoid unnecessary disputes at the workplace.
Mr Amankona Ampofo, Northern Regional Director, NYA, who was represented at the event, expressed the Authority’s commitment to the overall development and empowerment of young people.
He urged the youth to be law-abiding and take advantage of various interventions provided by the government and civil society organisations to develop their capacities and become responsible citizens.
He said equipping young people with relevant knowledge and skills would enhance their ability to participate meaningfully in economic and social development.
GNA
Edited by Eric K Amoh/Benjamin Mensah
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