Skarm Construction workers protest against illegal dismissal

Thirteen workers of Skarm Construction and Engineering Service Limited, have been dismissed for allegedly joining a labour union.

The Local Union Chairman, Kenneth Tetteh Annor, told the Ghana News Agency at the company’s premises at Apollo, near Takoradi, on Wednesday that on January 2O this year, Management of the company informed them that their services were no longer needed, therefore they should collect their one-month salary and leave.

He said when they demanded the reason for their dismissal, Management told them that due to the fallen prices of crude oil on the world market, it had suffered a drop in its operations.

Mr. Annor said they rejected the explanation given by Management, since all the workers dismissed were those who had joined the labour union, and therefore, viewed the dismissal as victimization.

He alleged that for almost five years now, anytime workers in the company tried to unionize, Management intimidated them and often terminated their contracts and that had deterred many workers from unionizing.

He indicated that since they joined the union, Management had refused to pay them their overtime allowances, workman’s compensation, and other work incentives, but those who had not joined the union had benefited.

He revealed that their monthly salaries were paid on table-tops, instead of transferring them through the banks, and lamented that most of them had not even received their appointment letters after working for more than five years.

Mr. Asamoah Mensah, a Senior Industrial Relations Officer of Construction and Building Material Workers Union (CBMWU) of Trades Union Congress, explained that the labour laws required that Management of the company informed the Chief Labour Officer three months before terminating the contract of workers, while the affected workers must be sufficiently informed.

He said the CBMWU would petition the National Labour Commission on the matter for an amicable settlement.

He expressed grave concern about continued discrimination meted out against construction workers by both indigenous and foreign companies in the country, and charged workers to insist on their rights.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Elizabeth Acquah, Regional Labour Officer, said although employers have the right to dismiss workers when they breach contract agreements, that must be done fairly with due cognizance to the labour laws.

She assured the dismissed workers that she would summon Management of the company to produce contract document to ascertain whether the 13 workers had violated any of the rules therein.

Skarm Construction and Engineering Services Limited, which has offices in Tema and Takoradi, was established in 1988, to offer crane and fork- lifting services to companies in the mining, construction and transport haulage industry, as well as, offer services to the oil and gas companies.