Gas pipeline workers want better working conditions

About 200 workers engaged in various gas pipeline projects in the Western Region could lose their social security and other entitlements because their employers, Sinopec International, is allegedly not honouring such entitlements.

They are alleging that Sinopec is using loop holes in the labour laws to circumvent the payment and signing of a collective bargaining agreement.

Speaking to the Ghana News Agency in Accra on Friday, Mr Pius Quainoo, General Secretary of the Construction and Building Material Workers Union (CBMW) of the Trades Union Congress (TUC), said the labour law makes room for the engagement of temporal workers for six months after which they become permanent.

He said instead of making those who have spent over six months on the job permanent workers, the company rather sacked them without any compensation.

He said the union intervened and pressed for negotiations for the conclusion of the signing of bargaining agreement, as well as an increase in salaries and wages and a good package for those whose services would be dispensed with.

Mr Quinoo said the union called for series of meetings to resolve all the labour issues and for management to be present, rather than delegating representatives who have no mandate to conclude any agreement.

He said the management of Sinopec International have been served a notice to attend a scheduled meeting on the issues on June 13, 2013, concerning workers on the Manpong, Bobrama and Atuabu gas pipelines projects, all in the Western Region, noting that the refusal of the management of the company to attend the meeting would compel the workers to embark on an industrial action.

Source: GNA