NLC to hear Laboratory Scientists case on June 1

The National Labour Commission (NLC) has appealed to the Ghana Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists to rescind their strike action and allow the commission to settle disputes involving essential services through arbitration.

In a statement issued by Mr Ofosu Asamoah, Executive Secretary, NLC in Accra, the Commission said: “the NLC wishes to appeal to striking workers to rescind the strike action and allow the Commission to hear the parties.

The striking workers must allow the matter determined pursuant to section 162 (3) of the labour Act, 2003 (Act 651) which enjoins the commission to take steps to settle disputes involving essential services through compulsory arbitration.”

The statement said formal hearing of the matter is slated for Friday, June 1, this year and as such, the commission had served invitations on all the parties.

“It is expected that the parties will honour this invitation and allow the NLC to intervene and have the dispute determined.”

The NLC said it had heard about the ongoing industrial action by the Ghana Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists in the media following the impasse between the Association and its employer the Ministry of Health.

The Commission recounted that on May 7, this year, it received a copy of the Association letter dated May 4, this year titled; “ Notification of Withdrawal of Medical Laboratory Services.”

According to the NLC, although they were not officially served with the letter, it invited all parties to appear before it because, “there was a catalogue of actions in the association’s letter, which if not attended to will be followed by a total withdrawal of services on June 4, 2018.”

It therefore invited both parties on May 18, for a preliminary hearing with the association to appraise itself considering the essential nature of the service provided by the association.

The Ghana Association of Medical Laboratory Scientist on Monday embarked on industrial strike to back their demands in their allowances discrepancies.

Following the withdrawal of their services, patients are said to be stranded at various hospitals in the country.