Labour Commission facing logistical ‘drought’

The Executive Secretary of the National Labour Commission (NLC), Mr. Ofosu Asamoah has indicated that the Commission is currently unable to deliver on its mandate due to a lack of logistics.

Speaking at an Organised Labour Forum, dubbed ‘Industrial Dispute Resolution: The Law and Practice,’ Asamoah stated that the Commission has only two motorbikes, and two pickups of which only one is running.

He noted that the equipment’s have been in operation for about 15 years now.

“That is why the Commission is unable to deliver service within the three days, as required by the law, upon the receipt of any complaint.”

In addition to the lack of logistics, the Commission doesn’t have regional and district presence, unlike other commissions such the Forestry Commission and the Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), among others.

“Yet there is labour in every corner of this country but the NLC is restricted in its operations in Accra,” he said.

Asamoah said, this has led to loss of confidence in the Commission to deliver on its mandate, due to regular delays in cases brought before it.

From May, 2018 to July 2018, the Commission is reported to have received over 200 cases from all parts of the country.

From 2006 to 2016, the Commission had 8,100 cases of which 4,417, representing 54 percent, remains at various stages of settlement.

The delay has also been attributed to a lack of human resources, where currently, the Commission has a single lawyer for all its legal issues.

This, Asamoah noted, as a huge impediment to the work of the Commission.

The NLC, established by Act 651(2003) is expected to facilitate the settlement of industrial disputes, as well as investigate labour-related complaints, in particular unfair labour practices and take such steps as it considers necessary to prevent labour disputes.

The Commission is to maintain a database of qualified persons to serve as mediators and arbitrators, and promote effective cooperation between labour and management.