The government plans to strengthen its partnership with the International Labour Organization (ILO) in a bid to address unemployment and other labour issues that confront the country.
According to the Minister for Employment and Labour Relations, Ignatius Baffuor Awuah, the ILO is providing technical support for the resolution of a number of challenges in the labour market.
[contextly_sidebar id=”exURS9JYTnZNo4k1DL16AJJvf3Ibmfem”]Speaking to Citi News, Mr. Baffuor Awuah said the international body’s support will be of immense benefit to overcoming labour challenges.
“They are helping us to develop what we call the labour impact assessment which we are almost through. We are also collaborating with them developing so many other projects in the job value chain, especially the areas of ensuring that decent work outcomes are adhered to as well as eradicating child labour from the labour force. These are all some of the projects we are doing with the ILO,” the Minister outlined.
“In case we need anything technical issues as far as labour issues are concerned, we fall on them for technical support. So the ILO has actually been a very strong pillar in what we do at the ministry,” the Minister added.
The ILO is a United Nations agency that deals with labour problems relating to international labour standards and social protection.
Ghana is one of the 187 states under the umbrella of the ILO.
Unemployment struggle
Unemployment is ranked as one of the most pressing labour challenges confronting Ghana’s economy.
The latest Ghana Labour Force Survey Report by the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) pegged the unemployment rate at 11.9% in 2015, a rise of about 6% since 2012/2013.
But even that figure has been disputed by observers, like the Unemployed University Graduates Association who believe the figure is significantly higher.
The unemployment rate is highest in the Upper West Region (18.4%) and lowest in the Brong Ahafo Region (8.4%).
Two thirds (67.6%) of the population; 15 years and older, are employed while 23.3 percent are outside the labour force.
About one-tenth (11.7%) of the employed population are underemployed.
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By: Bobbie Osei/citifmonline.com/Ghana