The Minister of Employment and Labour Relations, Mr. Ignatius Baffour-Awuah, has stated that government has instituted a Tripartite Technical Committee, that will soon unfold the modalities for implementing the National Unemployment scheme.
Addressing the media at a press briefing on 16th September, 2020 in Accra, Mr. Baffour-Awuah iterated that the scheme would serve as an income support system to the unemployed and to persons in the event of a social and economic crisis when in operation.
“The scheme would also offer opportunities for training, re-training, job search support, apprenticeship and internships to enable those who lose their jobs to re-adjust. It is expected to be a contributory scheme for workers.”
Also, He intimated that, he led a team, to conduct a random inspection at selected workplaces to ascertain the level of compliance workplaces adhere in respect to COVID-19 protocols.
According to the Minister, the purpose of the exercise was to consolidate World Health Organization (WHO) and Ghana Health Service (GHS) Preventive Protocols as well as enhance routine inspections by the Labour Department and the Department of Factories Inspectorate.
He further stressed that the visit was aimed at ensuring strict compliance with and enforcement of the COVID-19 protocols and guidelines outlined by the government.
“I am happy to report that 80% of the establishments inspected were complying with the guidelines prescribed by government and the WHO. I wish to entreat all employers and workers to continue to adhere to the prescribed protocols to ensure safety at the workplaces.”
He revealed that, some of the institutions visited within Accra, Tema, Nsawam and its environs were in the manufacturing, service, retail and recycling sub-sectors.
Emphasizing on the Ministry’s effort to inhibit the spread of the virus, he stated that, “In order to curb the spread the at workplaces, the Ministry in collaboration with the National Tripartite Technical Committee, issued a 10-point communique on workplace safety.
