The government has withdrawn a complaint it had filed at the National Labour Commission (NLC) against the twelve striking labour unions.
The labour groups embarked on an indefinite strike in protest of government’s failure to pay public sector workers their tier two pension funds for a trustee to manage.
The Minister of Employment and Labour Relations, Haruna Iddrisu, last Friday announced that government had lodged a formal complaint at the National Labour Commission (NLC) “as the action of the public sector workers is in contravention of the labour Act Act 651 because they ought to have served government notice.”
[contextly_sidebar id=”X58IeSb4mPCwu0JtTegp09yZh8ocJ4oo”]However, the NLC has confirmed to Citi News that the complaint they received from the government calling for the Commission’s intervention in the dispute has been withdrawn.
The Executive Secretary of the NLC, Dr Bernice Welbeck, said: “Records show that on Thusrday, October 23 a complaint was filed by the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations but the following day we received a letter withdrawing the complaint from the Commission. So as we speak at the moment, there is no complaint before the labour commission.”
She added that as the NLC’s intervention has not been sought on the matter, they cannot be involved in the dispute.
The strike by the labour unions has been criticised by the government who believe it is unlawful and unnecessary.
However, several groups are in support of the labour unions’ actions including policy think tank IMANI Ghana, who told Citi News that they believed it was justified after “very little efforts were made” following appeals to the government to address the concerns of the unions.
Three teacher unions have also announced a separate strike, demanding the payment of of their transfer grants and vehicle maintenance allowances which have been in arrears for months.
The Eduaction Ministry has expressed its helplessness on the situation due to the failure of the Finance Ministry to release the funds.
By: Edwin Kwakofi/citifmonline.com/Ghana