Over 2,050 former employees of the erstwhile Ghana National Trading Corporation seeking the full payment of their severance awards at a Tema High Court have filed a motion for judgement in default of defence.
This followed the failure of the defendants, namely the Attorney General and the Divestiture Implementation Committee (DIC) to file any defence within 14 days as allowed by the rules of the court.
The motion, filed by Mr Emmanuel K. Jones-Mensah, Counsel for the plaintiffs, said failure by the defendants to file a defence meant they have no defence and prayed to the court to enter judgment against the defendants in default of defence.
Mr Jones-Mensah said a search conducted indicated that the defendants have been served with the writ of summons and statement of claim and they entered appearance on November one, this year but have failed to file a statement of defence.
The ex-GNTC workers made up 1,750 permanent staff and 302 casual employees, who were laid-off six years ago to pave way for the divestiture of the Corporation and the DIC and Attorney-General's Department took over its liabilities.
They said instead of being paid redundancy benefits in accordance with their conditions of service, the Corporation imposed a flat rate of 14 to 17 months salary for permanent staff and eight weeks pay for the casual workers.
The plaintiffs are asking for severance pay in accordance with their collective agreement and interest calculated at current bank rates.
They are also seeking an order of interim injunction to restrain the defendants from ejecting them from their official residencies until the full payment of their entitlements.
The court would sit on Monday, November 26, to hear the motion
