CRM Will Create 5,000 Jobs – Gov’t

Government has said that its Cylinder Recirculation Module (CRM) aimed at ensuring safety in handling Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG), will provide 5,000 jobs contrary to claims by the Ghana Liquefied Petroleum Gas Operators Association (GLiPGOA) that it will ruin 7,000 local jobs in the industry.

“From projections, the potential impact of the new LPG distribution model indicates that a minimum of 5000 jobs will be created in addition to the existing jobs in the industry estimated to be around 3,500,” a press statement issued by Deputy Information Minister, Curtis Perry Okudzeto, stated on Friday, 18 May 2018.

This was in reaction to a notice served by GLiPGOA of its intended strike beginning Monday, 21 May 2018.

But government insists that “the new areas in the supply chain which are bottling and transportation of filled cylinders, will create new businesses and jobs once the distribution model becomes operational”.

The statement added that inasmuch as government respects the right of citizens to exercise their rights of assembly as enshrined in the constitution, “we find the action by the leadership of GLiPGOA not only disappointing but an attempt to compel government to abandon a noble policy, which will not only increase local participation but ensure safety standards in the LPG value chain”.

The release explained that ongoing engagements “have taken place with the direct involvement of GLiPGOA represented by their president, Torgbui Adaklu V, and their concerns had been factored into the broader working document”.

However, the group decided to boycott the meeting at some point. Government says it came as a “shock to the Committee, the group pulled out of the discussions, insisting among other things that the model will kick their members out of job”.

The release indicated that: “Government, through the NPA (National Petroleum Authority), runs an open-door policy, and, will, therefore, encourage group members with doubts about the aspects of the model not to walk away from the process, but remain, so that they can put out their views to be adequately addressed in the working document”.

Government is, therefore, calling on GLiPGOA to rescind its decision to cease operations and return to the negotiation table to have their concerns properly addressed.

Source: ClassFMonline