GAFCO resumes operations

Tema, Jan. 19, GNA - Three hundred and forty-five workers of the Ghana Agro Foods Company (GAFCO) on Monday resumed work after nearly two months' break following industrial dispute between the company's management and the entire staff. The resumption followed an amicable settlement and a memorandum of understanding signed between the management of GAFCO and the employees who were represented by the Industrial and Commercial Workers Union (ICU) of TUC.

The memorandum stated that the company would have wished to re-employ all the affected workers "but because of the present financial situation of GAFCO all the affected workers cannot be re-employed now by the company". It said the workers had been re-employed without any loss in conditions of service "but without the payment of 2003 bonus, however, salaries would be payable with effect from the date of resumption of work and staff would be bonded to be of good behaviour for six months.

The memorandum however, stated that 149 of the entire workers are to be considered temporarily laid-off but would be given first option of employment as the fortunes of the company improves, adding that they would enjoy 50 percent of the provident fund plus interest. The MOU said both management and staff had agreed to co-operate and work together to return GAFCO to increased productivity, profitability, as well as work to promote and maintain peaceful and orderly industrial environment within the company.

The memorandum signed on January 16 by Mr Napoleon Kpoh, General Secretary of the ICU and Mr Hans Lampey, General Manager, Finance and Administration of GAFCO, was witnessed by Mr Yaw Barimah, Minister for Manpower Development and Employment and Mrs Rose Karikari Anang, Executive-Director. Meanwhile, policemen who were deployed at the company's premises earlier were seen on Monday still guarding the facility.