TUC kicks against portion of Labour Bill

The Trades Union Congress (TUC) says it has exceptions to the provision in the revised Labour Bill which allows for pregnant women to be deployed in areas of work that could be injurious to their health.

Mr Kofi Asamoah, Deputy General Secretary (Operations) stated this during an interaction with representatives of District Councils of Labour (DCL) in the Volta Region at Ho as part of his countrywide tour to explain the Congress' stand on the Bill.

He said the phrase "unless with her consent", undermined that section of the bill which seeks to protect pregnant women from work, as "dangerous." Mr Asamoah said a pregnant woman might be compelled by financial pressure to work to the detriment of her own health or that of the unborn baby.

The TUC Deputy General Secretary said he was aware that the Congress' stand on the provision in the Bill had been cited as paternalistic and did not recognise the autonomy of pregnant women.

"It seems to us, however, that society has a vested interest in each one of us and has the right to make provision reasonably required for our protection independent of us..." he said. Parliament is expected to pass the labour Bill into law when it resumes sitting this month.