Institute independent board to award foreign contracts – IROs tell Gov’t

Industrial Relations Officers (IROs) drawn from unions affiliated to the Trades Union Congress (TUC), have called on government to institute a board to award foreign contracts in the construction industry.

The board, which should have a legal backing, would ensure that International Labour Organization (ILO) conventions on human rights and respect for the formation of trades unions are incorporated in all contracts signed.

The IROs, from the Construction Building Materials Workers Union (CBMWU), Public Utility Workers Union, and Timber and Woodworkers Union, made the call at a day’s seminar in Accra on Wednesday to up-grade the skills of the officers.

Mr Pius Kweku Quaino, General Secretary of the CBMWU, who was the resource person, said the board, which should be free from government intervention, must include General Secretaries whose unions were in the construction industry.

He said the union would organize in-service training for such foreign investors on labour laws and Ghanaian culture.

Mr Quaino said the practice made it difficult for unions to organize workers in many foreign companies and also negotiate for better conditions of service because of the absence of such conventions in contracts.

He said IROs had the responsibility to work hard in upgrading the skills of their members to ensure high productivity as well as help to realize their dreams.

Mr Quaino said they should do a lot of research work so as to be well informed to solve problems they faced.

Mr Quaino charged them to study the Constitution of Ghana to be able to operate within the ambit of the Constitution.

He said they should study with due diligence to help raise the image of their members and the unions in general.

Source: GNA