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Ghanaian staff of BIVAC International Ghana despite their anger at their low salaries and poor working conditions from the Management of the multi-national company are keeping their boiling anger quiet for fear of possible reprisals should they be seen in the open justifiably complaining. BIVAC International Ghana is a French company which is part of the Bureau Veritas Group. BIVAC has been working in Ghana as one of the Destination Inspection Companies (DICs) and has been working in Ghana for over 17 years. Government contracted the DICs to undertake price qualification and classification of goods on behalf of government in addition to building a database for CEPS. The DICs receive one percent commission on all transactions made on behalf of the government Ghana. Government transfers fifty percent of the total commission received by the DICs from the one percent commission on transactions in foreign currency to the headquarters of the DICs whilst the remaining fifty percent is paid in Ghana Cedis for the payment of wages and salaries and to meet local expenses of the company. Whilst generation of employment is a major justification for the continuous operations of the DICs, some of the DICs such as BIVAC have been taking advantage of the high unemployment situation in the country to offer very poor remuneration to its employees. BIVAC has had a history of stopping the unionization of their workers into an organized group that can operate well under the Labour Laws of Ghana. One strategy the company employs to insist on reapplication anytime contracts with employees expires. For example, though there was no break in the operations of the company when the contract of the company expired in 2007, the company requested all the employees to reapply. The company took advantage of the re-application and did not engage many unionised employees and union executives. According to the employees of the company who spoke to TNF in anonymity, the management of the company hates unionisation because it does not want the workers to have a strong mouthpiece against the poor working conditions and their dictatorial tendencies. TNF investigations indicate that BIVAC Ghana is paid more than one million Ghana cedis by government each month to represent the 50 percent of the total commission retained in Ghana for the payment of salaries and other expenses after 50 percent had been paid in foreign currency to the headquarters in Paris, France. Payment receipts intercepted by TNF show an average of USD 1,121,127.59 as the monthly figures BIVAC rakes from the revenue collection effort to Ghana Government, GoG. Based on the mutual agreement between BIVAC and GoG, a whopping GHC1,500,000.00 and more is retained locally for the payment of staff salaries and the cost of running their activities. Considering the workforce of BIVAC at a maximum of 100persons, if each employee was getting 2000GHC, the company would still be left with USD1,300,000.00 to run the place and even pay their expatriate staff. Despite this huge local revenues meant for local expenses especially salaries, the company pays graduates about GHC 500. The company has no salary structure and salary is administered on the basis of nepotism and favouritism. Workers who are vocal in the protection of the rights of workers are branded and being a union member goes with some risk. The National Forum followed up on an insider hint on the impasse between management of the company and the workers. It was revealed that the workers have been dissatisfied with how the management of BIVAC had played delay tactics in the negotiations of their Collective Agreement. The company had not been able to complete negotiations with the Union for a period of over 2 years. Regular change of Managing Directors, the long sickness of one of the Managing Directors and the general attitude of management had contributed greatly to the delay in the completion of the CBA. TNF investigation revealed that the current Managing Director of BIVAC is the fourth they have had in the company since the union started negotiations on the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). The remuneration of the workers of BIVAC is among the lowest in the DIC companies and the workers are unhappy that BIVAC decided to pay one month salary ( 8.33 % of annual salary) as bonus to the workers which is the lowest bonus paid by the DICs . All the DICs paid about two months salaries and more as bonus to their workers. TNF checks within the Maritime industry show that BIVAC pays the lowest salaries and bonuses at the end of every year. A worker who spoke separately on the condition of strict anonymity, wondered why after their effort has yielded so much profit to the company, they are ill-treated like that. The contract of the company expires this year and there are signs that government would renew the contract. The workers have gathered that the management of BIVAC intends to victimise the unionised employees who have been vocal in the protection of the rights of the workers by ensuring that they are not re-employed when the contract of the company is renewed. A Labour Expert TNF spoke to in its investigation said �I do not see the need for the company to request the employees to re-apply when the operations of the company would be continuous when the contracts can easily be renewed.� The Labour Expert advised the Minister of Trade to ensure that employees do not lose their jobs in the renewal of the contract. Ghanaians would not sit down for foreign companies to violate the rights of employees. Meanwhile, BIVAC through the deputy MD, Mr Fred MacBruce finally spoke to the Managing Editor of TNF after several attempts to get the side of the Management to respond had failed. He assured the paper of responding to the concerns raised at a slated meeting later in the week. He also hinted of a meeting between the Management and the Union towards the resolution of workers issues. The National Forum has more on BIVAC so stay tuned.