Mr Morgan Ayawine, Acting Deputy General Secretary of the Industrial and Commercial Workers’ Union (ICU) in charge of operations, have urged employers to ensure health and safety regulations at workplaces.
He said when health and safety issues at workplaces were seriously adhered to, they become a surest way for employers to increase productivity and to help to build a strong nation.
Speaking to the Ghana News Agency ahead of this year’s May Day celebration, Mr Ayawine noted that organized labour was not only concerned about decent work that ensured the protection of the fundamental human rights of workers to social and economic dignity, but more importantly increased productivity and the development of the country.
This year’s May Day is under the theme: “Decent Work for Sustainable Economic Development”.
Mr Ayawine expressed concern about frequent industrial accidents at some companies, and urged the Inspectorate Division of the Labour Department to ensure that industrial establishments had in place safety equipment for their workers.
“We cannot increase productivity and build a strong nation if health and safety regulations at workplaces are completely flouted or ignored with impunity by some employers whose only aim is to maximize profit to the detriment of poor workers,” Mr Ayawine emphasized.
He observed that much as Ghanaian workers were poised to maintain industrial peace and harmony at the workplace, so as to contribute their quota for the nation’s survival, growth and development, it was imperative also for the other social partners, especially government to be sensitive and committed to improving workers’ service conditions.
The Acting Deputy General Secretary, paid glowing tribute to the pioneering workers whose sacrifices, toils, devotion and commitment to
duty, had made the May Day celebration, an international event, worthwhile.
Mr Ayawine pointed out that it was pertinent for the working people to celebrate and to reflect on the achievements and shortcomings of May Day,because had it not been the existence of trade union organisations, there would have been incidence of workers’ total enslavement by owners of capital.