Training of apprentices must conform to the law

Accra, Aug. 09, GNA 96 Master Craft men and women were on Friday urged to be mindful of the Children's Act and the International Labour Law as they recruited and trained their apprentices since their vocation was critical to the development of the nation.

Dr Raymond Atuguba, a Lecturer at the Faculty of Law, University of Ghana, Legon, said it was unfortunate that most trainers of apprentices were ignorant of the law thus denying them an enabling environment to learn effectively.

Speaking at a two-day training of trainers workshop for members of the Association of Apprentices on the vocational skills aspect of the Children's Act which opened in Accra, Dr Atuguba said there was, therefore, the need to educate people on the laws to enable them to handle and treat apprentices as the law required. The training organised by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) in collaboration with Ghana Employers Association, Ministry of Manpower, Youth and Employment, UNICEF and the District Assemblies would educate master craft men and women on the Children's Act 560 and the apprenticeship aspect of the law.

It would also strengthen their capacity to lobby policy and legislative reform for training apprentices and assist them to create enabling environment to improve their programmes. Dr Atuguba said despite the existence of laws on Child Labour and other regulations, there was the difficulty of their enforcement and changes in attitudes.

The enforcement of the laws at the highest levels was critical for changing attitudes of society.

"To ensure that legislation is fully enforced, support must be provided for awareness creation, design, publication and dissemination of materials that clearly defines the roles and responsibilities of all relevant public institutions in the law enforcement activities." He took participants through the overview of chid labour in the country, aspects of the Children's Act that treated apprentices and the details of policies and urged them to also train their colleagues and help in the monitoring and enforcement of policies and laws on apprenticeship in Ghana.

Mrs Elizabeth Hagan, Head of the Child Labour Unit of the Ministry of Manpower, Youth and Employment, said child labour monitoring committees would be set up in specific areas to assist in the protection of children and law enforcement mechanisms.

Strategies would also be developed to support the Government and other stakeholders in the implementation plan.