Aggrieved SIM Power workers hold management hostage

More than 200 workers of SIM Power Tech and Woolim International, undertaking the T2 expansion project at the Aboadze Thermal Plant, Wednesday, demonstrated against their authorities over unpaid severance package and underpayment of wages.

The demonstrators held their employers hostage for several hours until the Police, and some officials of the Takoradi International Company, the Trades Union Congress, and the Labour Commission, intervened to resolve the impasse.

According to the workers, their managements calculated their monthly salaries on 22 working days instead of 27 days, which they said, was contrary to what had been signed in their Collective Bargaining Agreement s.

They claimed that those whose appointments were terminated were also not paid their severance packages.

Addressing the concerns raised by the workers at a meeting he convened, Mr. Ellis Ankomah, Western Regional Secretary of Trades Union Congress, at Aboadze, said the Labour Act 76 of 1966 and Executive Instrument 34, clearly stated that employers should use 27 working days multiplied by daily rate in calculating workers monthly salaries.

He explained that workers who worked during the weekends should be paid overtime allowance, therefore, the concerns raised by the workers were valid. Mr Ankomah, consequently, asked SIM Power Tech and Woolim International to comply with the labour laws to avoid a legal tussle.

In view of this, Mr. Ernest Kofi Osafo, Chief Financial Officer of Takoradi International Company, charged the two companies to comply and pay all outstanding monies within two weeks to the workers, with effect from May 1, when the CBA was signed.

The Regional Labour Officer, Madam Elizabeth Acquah, urged the companies to pay the severance package of the workers whose appointments had been terminated and advised the aggrieved workers to use laid down procedures in resolving labour issues, instead of resorting to violence.

Mr. Richard Asamoah Mensah, Senior Industrial Relations Officer of Construction and Building Materials Workers Union, told the GNA that his outfit made several efforts to compel the two companies to adhere to the labour laws but they remained adamant.

He said the Union, which was the voice for construction workers, would not relent in its efforts to ensure that workers’ entitlements were correctly paid. However, he advised workers to exercise patience and often dialogue with their employers for amicable settlement of labour conflicts.