MODEC Ghana Limited, the company managing the FPSO Kwame Nkrumah has described as illegal the strike by some of its local workers.
The local workers laid down their tools on Wednesday to protest what they say is poor working conditions.
They claim MODEC pays expatriate workers more than the Ghanaian workers.
[contextly_sidebar id=”ZeYT2EBpQquQbsYtW6Vb4vuNv2TmAiAm”]According to them, they receive an average of GHc2, 500 to GHc3, 000 a month while their expatriate counterparts take an average of about 5,000 to 10,000 dollars, a difference of about 80%.
In a letter cited by citifmonline.com MODEC insisted that the members embarked on the strike “without notice and without cause in complete disregard to section 159 and 160 of the Labour Act, 2003 (Act 651).
The also threatened to withhold salaries of the striking workers if they continue with the action.
A report by Hays Oil and Gas indicates that Ghanaian workers in the oil and gas industry are among the least paid in the world.
“The remuneration of illegal striking workers stands forfeited for the period of the illegal strike pursuant to Section 168 (4) of Act 651,” the letter stated.
Government, while urging the workers to return to work also pleaded with them to negotiate with their employers. MODEC has indicated that it “maintains an open door policy and frank engagement in matters of employment relations.”
“MODEC management requests all employees who are currently involved in this strike action to leave the installation and attend a meeting in Takoradi to discuss the current situation. We are currently organizing logistics in conjunction with our client to facilitate this meeting,” the letter added.
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By: Godwin Allotey Akweiteh/citifmonline.com/Ghana