The government is rolling out a national job market information system to enhance access to employment opportunities, directly link job seekers with employers.

The national job market information system, which is digital platform, will aggregate job vacancies from both the public and private sectors and enable applicants to apply online, says the Minister of labour, Jobs and Employment (MJLE), Dr Abdul-Rashid Hassan Pelpuo.

Speaking to journalists at the Ministry’s maiden media engagement in Accra on Friday, Dr Pelpuo said the initiative formed part of government’s broader efforts to address unemployment and improve labour market efficiency.

Adding that the system would significantly reduce the challenges associated with job hunting, particularly where it was informed by findings that many private sector organisations had vacant positions but lacked effective mechanisms to reach prospective employees, especially  the youth.

Speaking further on the work of the ministry over the past one year, Dr Pelpuo attributed recent improvements in the economy to a stable

labour environment which according to him, had been achieved through constructive engagement with organised labour and responsible governance.

He mentioned that negotiations over the past year that resulted in a nine per cent increase in the minimum wage and base salary, as well as the successful resolution of several potential industrial actions through dialogue.

Answering questions, on alleged maltreatment of Ghanaian workers in the Gulf Regions, he emphasised that the issue was a thing of the past now and that the ministry and government for that matter had over the past year had signed bilateral agreements with some countries to ensure that the their recruitment and subsequent journey would be proper coordinated to ensure that no Ghanaian worker outside was disadvantaged.

To this end, he noted that his administration will open engagement with the media, describing the press as a key partner in governance and national development

Furthermore, Dr Pelpuo indicated that he was grateful to journalists for their accurate and consistent reporting on government policies, citing that it had helped to build public confidence in the work of the ministry.

He also acknowledged the media’s role in educating the public on labour and employment issues, describing the engagement as part of efforts to deepen cooperation between the ministry and media.

He also mentioned that the government’s Resetting Agenda message can only get to the Ghanaians accurate reportage from journalists of the various projects currently going on around the country, particularly the Big Push projects in terms of the infrastructure, mainly roads.