The Africa Centre for International Law
and Accountability (ACILA) has called on the Government to ratify ILO
Convention 158 to provide employment security for private sector workers.
This Convention, which entered into
force in 1985, provides that termination at the initiative of the employers
shall be based on valid reason which are proven misconduct, proven
incompetence, and operational requirements.
The Centre said when workers are assured
of employment security, subject only to good conduct, competence and
productivity, and would not be terminated arbitrarily, workers would not only
feel they are treated with dignity but are likely to be loyal, conscientious,
and contribute to increased productivity.
This was contained in a statement signed
by its Executive Director, Mr William Nyarko, to mark May Day celebration which
is being celebrated in Ghana under the theme: ‘Sustainable Pension for all: The
Role of Social Partners.’
ACILA is a research and education,
non-partisan, non-profit, and non-governmental organisation that, among other
things, monitors African States’ compliance with regional, continental, and
international instruments.
ACILA noted that public sector workers
enjoy security of employment guaranteed by the 1992 Constitution while in the
private sector only unionised workers enjoy this right.
“For the thousands of private sector
workers without a trade union to negotiate valid reason termination for them,
their continued employment is at the whim and caprices of their employers. They
are terminated with a period of notice or payment in lieu without valid
reason,” the statement said.
According to ACILA, the power of
employers to terminate workers’ employment without valid reason is used as a
tool for employers to intimidate workers from joining or forming a trade union
to protect and defend their interests.
Additionally, it allows employers to
avoid payment of compensation to workers when operational challenges lead to
downsizing of their enterprises.
ACILA urged organised labour and civil
society concerned about the welfare of workers to put pressure on the government
to ratify Convention 158 to give protection to workers in the private sector, most
of whom are treated like commodities.