Sunyani to host 2012 May Day celebration – GTUC

The Ghana Trades Union Congress (GTUC), on Tuesday said this year’s May Day parade would be held in Sunyani, capital town of the Brong-Ahafo Region.

Mr. Kofi Asamoah, Secretary-General of the GTUC, who announced this at a general meeting of the Tema District Council of Labour, said it was the aim of the Union to endevour and rotate the celebration of the event from one region to the other, as it used to be.

He said the change in venue, “would not take anything away from the celebration.”

Mr Asamoah explained that whereas the executives of the various District Councils of Labour would be expected to be at the national parade, Greater Accra Region would organize its regional parade for its workers.

He said that companies that do not have branches in the Brong-Ahafo Region, may send their representatives to participate in the parade if they so wished.

Touching on the country’s minimum wage, Mr Asamoah said that the minimum wage for workers was supposed to be a ‘safety net’ for the payment of workers rather than the actual pay.

He said employers must not pay below the minimum wage, but should use it as a basis to negotiate with employees.

Mr. Wilson Agana, at trade unionist, congratulated women workers for their contributions towards their families and the economy of Ghana.

He said it was about time the minimum wage was replaced with a living wage, because the minimum wage was meager, and could not take care of a family of four for a day.] Mr Agana asked companies which refused to pay their employees above the minimum wage, to re-consider their stance. **