ILO supports TUC to train its members and activists on productivity and Decent Work in Ghana
Between 15th and 18th August 2023, the Ghana Trade Union Congress (TUC) received Technical and Financial support from the International Labour Organisation (ILO) to conduct capacity building training workshop targeting 60 workers in Ghana's shea and textile sectors on productivity and decent work.
30 October 2023
Accra (ILO News): The Productivity Ecosystem for Decent work project implemented by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and funded by the Government of Switzerland and Norway supported the Ghana Trade Union Congress (TUC) to organise a weeklong capacity building workshop on productivity and decent work for its members and activists. The workshop deepened participants’ knowledge of the general concept of productivity and its importance as the role of social dialogue for enhancing productivity and working conditions. Using the textile/garment and shea sectors as the case studies as the basis and context for the workshop, the event brought together 28 men and 34 women workers from Ghana TUC members and trade union activists from the formal and informal economy.
It was held in Tamale for participants selected from the Northern sector on 14th-15th August while in Koforidua for participants selected from the Southern sector on the 17th-18th August 2023. The workshop in addition to workers had representatives from the employers and government participating. The participation of the employers and government brought on board their respective perspectives on their roles to productivity and sharing gains.
Speaking on behalf of the Secretary General of TUC, the Northern Regional secretary of the Trade Union Congress, Ms. Felicia Krajar expressed the TUC’s commitment to building the capacity of its members for productivity improvement and underscored the role of social dialogue. She thanked ILO for the collaboration and expressed the TUC’s appreciation to the government of Switzerland and Norway for funding Ghana's Productivity Ecosystem for Decent Work project.
In his solidarity message, the representative of the Ghana Employers Association (GEA), Mr. Cosmos Hassan Alhassan observed that a harmonious and productive workplace could be achieved through collaboration, mutual respect and open dialogue. He highlighted the invaluable role of workers and employers in thriving for a shared vision to improve productivity and share gains fairly with particularly by ensuring an environment of decent work.
Speaking on behalf of the Chief Labour officer, the Eastern Regional Labour Officer, Mr. Justice Opare commended the government of Switzerland and Norway for the cooperation with the ILO and its social partners in a project aimed at improving productivity in the sectors prioritised by the project. He urged the social partners to work collaboratively to promote innovative workplace practices to drive efficiency for increased productivity with minimal disruptions. He reaffirms government continuous support to the social partners for the collective good of labour and productivity at the factory level in Ghana.
The Project Manager of the Productivity Ecosystems for Decent Work, David Marcos, indicated that the world was evolving, and workers should not be scared of the role of technology at the workplace. Technology he noted, must complement the efforts of workers to boost productivity. He entreated active participation to deepen understanding of the concepts underpinning productivity and its nexus with decent work.
Ms. Inviolata Chinyangarara, the ILO Workers’ Activities Specialist from Country Office Abuja, commended the high representation of women in the workshop and encouraged participants to prioritise productivity as a trade union issue which workers can leverage to reinforce the decent work agenda and improve working conditions for all workers. She reiterated that a continuous positive relationship between the tripartite partners (government, TUC and Ghana Employers’ Association) was critical for improving productivity through better social dialogue.
The workshop ended with a call for TUC to develop a plan to unionize the many shea pickers and butter processors cooperatives and the micro and small-scale dress making firms under the Union of Informal Workers Association (UNIWA) of TUC. Facilitating the transition to formality in the shea and textile and garment sectors will result in enhanced social protection coverage, representation and strengthened bargaining power for improved wages and working conditions of the many workers, mainly female dominated operating within the value chain.
It was held in Tamale for participants selected from the Northern sector on 14th-15th August while in Koforidua for participants selected from the Southern sector on the 17th-18th August 2023. The workshop in addition to workers had representatives from the employers and government participating. The participation of the employers and government brought on board their respective perspectives on their roles to productivity and sharing gains.
Speaking on behalf of the Secretary General of TUC, the Northern Regional secretary of the Trade Union Congress, Ms. Felicia Krajar expressed the TUC’s commitment to building the capacity of its members for productivity improvement and underscored the role of social dialogue. She thanked ILO for the collaboration and expressed the TUC’s appreciation to the government of Switzerland and Norway for funding Ghana's Productivity Ecosystem for Decent Work project.
In his solidarity message, the representative of the Ghana Employers Association (GEA), Mr. Cosmos Hassan Alhassan observed that a harmonious and productive workplace could be achieved through collaboration, mutual respect and open dialogue. He highlighted the invaluable role of workers and employers in thriving for a shared vision to improve productivity and share gains fairly with particularly by ensuring an environment of decent work.
Speaking on behalf of the Chief Labour officer, the Eastern Regional Labour Officer, Mr. Justice Opare commended the government of Switzerland and Norway for the cooperation with the ILO and its social partners in a project aimed at improving productivity in the sectors prioritised by the project. He urged the social partners to work collaboratively to promote innovative workplace practices to drive efficiency for increased productivity with minimal disruptions. He reaffirms government continuous support to the social partners for the collective good of labour and productivity at the factory level in Ghana.
The Project Manager of the Productivity Ecosystems for Decent Work, David Marcos, indicated that the world was evolving, and workers should not be scared of the role of technology at the workplace. Technology he noted, must complement the efforts of workers to boost productivity. He entreated active participation to deepen understanding of the concepts underpinning productivity and its nexus with decent work.
Ms. Inviolata Chinyangarara, the ILO Workers’ Activities Specialist from Country Office Abuja, commended the high representation of women in the workshop and encouraged participants to prioritise productivity as a trade union issue which workers can leverage to reinforce the decent work agenda and improve working conditions for all workers. She reiterated that a continuous positive relationship between the tripartite partners (government, TUC and Ghana Employers’ Association) was critical for improving productivity through better social dialogue.
The workshop ended with a call for TUC to develop a plan to unionize the many shea pickers and butter processors cooperatives and the micro and small-scale dress making firms under the Union of Informal Workers Association (UNIWA) of TUC. Facilitating the transition to formality in the shea and textile and garment sectors will result in enhanced social protection coverage, representation and strengthened bargaining power for improved wages and working conditions of the many workers, mainly female dominated operating within the value chain.