Respect Workers’ Rights – Minority

The Minority in Parliament yesterday joined thousands of well-wishers both within and outside the country to congratulate workers on the occasion of May Day.

The Minority used the occasion to express support for the working class and urged government to respect the right of workers without undue harassment and political intimidation.

In a statement signed and issued by the Minority leader in Parliament, and MP for Tamale South, Haruna Iddrisu, he said “We wish on this occasion to express our support for the working people in their just demands on Government to make the lives of working people both at their work places and homes more tolerable.”

The issue of workers, especially those in the public sector, losing their jobs whenever there is a change in government, has been a norm in this country.

However, the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), now seems to be against this norm.

They called on government to “end the specter of replacing public sector workers who are in their positions on account of merit with large numbers of Political Appointees and Special Assistants thus relegating highly experienced professionals to the background.”

According the Minority leader, some workers due to cases like this, have completely lost their jobs, exposing them and their families to excruciating levels of hardship.

He further commended workers for continuously striving to deliver in very difficult and challenging circumstances.

“We in the Minority wish to urge them to continue to give off their best and step up productivity in the supreme interest of our dear Nation.

“We wish on this occasion once again to stress the commonality of our links as people on the same social strata and to assure them that we would always stand by them,” he said.

May Day Parade

 The National May Day Parade was held at the Baba Yara Sport Stadium in Kumasi, under the theme, ‘Sustainable Development Goals & Decent Work: The role of Social Partners’

President Akufo-Addo and the Vice President Bawumia with some government officials, joined workers to commemorate the day.

Workers converged at designated parks across the country, in their TUC branded shirts.

Parades were held across the country, and as usual various workers unions marched with placards bearing different messages.

The occasion presented some disgruntled labour unions the opportunity to express their discontent with government over issues such as their salaries and conditions of service.

By: Emmanuel Yeboah Britwum