Workers Should Fight For Decent Work Conditions- Dr Baah

Dr. Yaw Baah, Deputy Secretary-General of the Ghana Trades Union Congress (TUC), has reminded workers of the need to exercise their responsibility to fight for good decent working conditions. Speaking at a day's symposium in Tema to commemorate this year's World Day for Decent Work, Dr Baah said the right to decent work was the sole responsibility of workers to exercise. The symposium, which was on the theme: "The Impact of the Economic Crisis on Labour" was jointly organised by the TUC and the Ghana Federation of Labour. Dr Baah noted that the decent work concept or agenda hinged on four thematic pillars, namely: Employment; Workers' Rights; Social Protection and Social Dialogue. He charged trades union leaders to address issues pertaining to labour, and to always champion the course of workers to curtail industrial unrests at workplaces. The TUC Deputy Secretary-General blamed the nation's economic woes on the harsh economic conditions prescribed by donor financial institutions such as the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. He said the leadership of organised labour would not relent in its efforts to ensure that the rights of workers were not trampled upon. Mr Alex Bonney, Chairman of the TUC, who chaired the function, pledged the commitment of the leadership of the organisation to negotiate with government to ensure improved service conditions for workers. He noted that the event was very important for the Trade Union Movement worldwide, since it focussed public attention on the need to build a new global economy, which is people-centred. During an open forum, the workers reiterated the need for decent working conditions such as good accommodation and better salaries to motivate them to give of their best.