About 70% Of Workers In Tema Are Said To Be Working On Casual Basis

The Industrial and Commercial Workers Union is up in arms with industries which constantly flout welfare of employees. 

The Union says the situation where permanent workers are laid off for casual workers is becoming alarming. 

The General Secretary of ICU, Solomon Kotei, stated this in Accra at a forum to commemorate World Precarious Workers Day. 

Mr Kotei noted the law on equal work for equal pay is being flouted with impunity by some industries which have decided to engage casual labour in order to escape tax. 

The ICU also expressed frustration at the rate of unemployment which it describes as alarming. 

On his part, the Tema Regional Officer of the Industrial and Commercial Workers Union, ICU, Eleazer Nyaunu, also disclosed that about 70% of workers in Tema who are working on casual basis are often forced to work under harsh conditions, working overtime without pay and without access to health care facilities. 

He said most employers are abusing the intended application of the privilege of casualization and are refraining from engaging workers on permanent basis despite their casualization for many years. 

This he said is a source of worry since such workers have the same job description as their permanent colleagues and sometimes even more. 

GBC