New Labour Bill would promote industrial peace- Akoto-Ampaw

Ho, Mar 8, GNA- Mr Anthony Akoto-Ampaw, a legal consultant on Monday said the provisions in the new labour Bill would guarantee and promote industrial peace and harmony.

He said the uniqueness of the Bill is that it allows the formation of two different Unions or Trade Union centres at their various work places at any point in time.

Mr Akoto-Ampaw was addressing a two-day seminar for 90 Professionals and Managerial Staff Executives of the Industrial and Commercial Workers Union (ICU) of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) in Ho.

The seminar was to offer a platform for the participants to brainstorm some of the provisions enshrined in the Bill for effective labour policing and delivery.

It also sought to modify and unionise all the activities of trade unionism to facilitate and promote prompt and speedy resolution of industrial disputes through negotiation, mediation and voluntary arbitration procedures.

Mr Akoto-Ampaw said the novelty of the new Bill seeks to discourage strike and industrial action among union members while lawful strike actions may be permitted and undertaken for seven days when it is considered inevitable.

He noted that it was forbidden for essential service providers to undertake or institute strike actions under the new Bill.

He said the challenge and strength of the new Bill further tasked the Labour Commission to perform its function and role effectively and efficiently according to the laws establishing it.

Mr Akoto-Ampaw said there was ample security towards the engagement and employment of casual workers, equal pay and conditions for casual workers among others.

Mr Napoloen Kpoh, General Secretary of ICU said the rationale behind the seminar was to enable the Trade Union leaders to be conversant with the implications and impact of the new Bill so that they could take decisions, educate members and their local branches. He said the Union was undertaking massive investment programmes aimed at making them self-sufficient by raising two billion cedis to finance the ICU Headquarters building in Accra.

Mr Kpoh who is also the President of the Union Network International (UNI) Africa, said the ICU is considering setting up a radio station or collaborate with existing ones for the dissemination of trade union information to members nationwide. 8 Mar 04