Casual AGC Workers Demonstrate

About 200 casual workers of Ashanti Goldfields Company (AGC) whose appointments have been terminated by the management of the company went on demonstration on Monday. The workers are demanding a good severance package instead of the one-month salary given to them.

A spokesperson for the demonstrating workers, John Baba told JOY FM that the current severance package is not good enough for them considering that permanent staff whose appointment are terminated take home 20 percent of their annual basic salary multiplied by the number of years served with the company.

The demonstrating workers who arrived in Accra this morning from Obuasi in the Ashanti Region first called at the headquarters of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) to present their petition. The TUC says it will investigate the grievances raised having been notified for the first time by the workers.

The demonstrating workers than continued to the Office of the President to present their petition. According to the aggrieved workers, over 800 casual workers have had their contracts terminated in phases without necessary compensation provisions since last year.

They also accused the Ghana Mine Workers Union and the AGC Management of victimising them. The management of the company terminated the appointment of the casual workers following the expiration of their contracts.