Script:
The town of Winneba, on the south coast of Ghana is one of the poorest areas in the country. Around 28,000 people earn a living from the sea, catching, trading, salting and smoking fish. It’s an informal economy where few people have access to social protection or a chance to improve their livelihoods.
Behind the beach, the women smoke the day’s herring catch, to preserve it in the 40 degree heat. Mary’s been doing this job for 25 years:
Mary Yamoah, Fish Smoker
We are here smoking the fish, and this is our hut, we work under….
A new project started by the ILO has targeted informal workers like Mary. It’s helped register the fish smokers and give them basic business and skills training.
Mary Yamoah
They taught us, we women are impulse buyers …first when you work you get money, you go to the market you buy things just like that. But we were taught how to account, you know that this is my profit, so you can use the money to care for the children.
Central to the project is a local government committee called an SPGE. It’s aim is to improve employment and stimulate the economy in Winneba. What makes the committee different is the participation of informal workers. Together they are coming up with solutions to help workers join the formal economy and reduce poverty in their community.
George Acquah, Chair, SPGE, Awutu-Effutu-Senya District
The SPGE has created awareness of the small business enterprises. They are implementing the Decent Work principles… and they are now managing their businesses more professionally.
Mary’s income has gone up, and she now has to pay tax. But she doesn’t mind - she’s now earning enough money to pay medical insurance at special low rates for workers like her.
Mary Yamoah
Before the insurance scheme, a lot of the children were not well, you cannot take them to hospital because if you go you have to pay, but then, you don’t have money. If you don’t have money, you just have to see your child, your son, die just like that. Now, if someone is not well, you just take him to the hospital.
Now when Mary preserves her fish she also can preserve the welfare of her family regardless of what changes the tides may bring.