GOVT TO ADOPT ILO CONVENTION ON DOMESTIC WORKERS, DAILY GRAPHIC, THUR JULY 7, 2011 (PAGE 35)

Story: Della Russel Ocloo

THE Government has decided to adopt the international Labour Organisation’s (ILO) convention on social protection for domestic workers, the Minister of Employment and Social Welfare, Mr Enoch Teye Mensah has announced.
The convention is intended to improve working conditions of hundreds of domestic workers across board.
Addressing a press conference in Accra yesterday, Mr Mensah said some East African countries had in place social protection policies that had ensured domestic workers had equal rights just as any other group of workers under their constitutions.
Such policies he said went to secure adequate wage payment and improved conditions of service for such category of workers.
The press conference was intended to brief the media on Ghana’s participation at the ILO’s 100th session held in Geneva in June this year.
Mr Mensah indicated that a solid social protection policy would equally enhance job security for unskilled labour thereby contributing to poverty reduction.
A ratification of the convention by government would also see the country benefiting from the conduct of performance audit in its labour department by the ILO as well as the building of capacity and training of technical staff of the ministry and strengthening of the communications section of the ministry.
In addition, the Factories Inspectorate would also be strengthened to ensure adequate protection of workers who worked under hazardous conditions.
The minister who led a 60-member delegation made up of Members of Parliament, workers representatives, the Trades Unions Congress (TUC), employers association and some selected employees of the ministry, indicated that the session took a unanimous decision to adopt the convention as service to humanity.
The session also elected the Secretary General of TUC, Mr Kofi Asamoah as a Titular of the workers group, while representatives of the Ghana Employers Association was elected as deputy member of the governing body for a four year term.
Mr Mensah denied suggestions that the government footed the bills for the 60-member team, saying, “only six people were catered for under the government sponsorship deal, while other interest groups paid for their members.
Mr Asamoah, who chaired the programme, expressed concern about the rising unemployment ratio in the country and express fear that the situation, if not addressed, could result in social unrest.