TUC calls for radical reforms at SSNIT

The Secretary General of the Trade Union Congress, (TUC) Dr. Yaw Baah has called for radical reforms of Social Security and National Insurance Trust, (SSNIT) and the National Labour Commission.

He said recent development at SSNIT calls for a review of National Pensions Act, Act 766, which regulate and supervise the operations of National Regulatory Authority.

Dr. Baah made this known when Executives of the TUC led by its Chairman, Peter Yeboah and Secretary General, Dr. Yaw Baah met President Akufo Addo at the presidency in Accra on Monday.

Dr. Baah also sent an SOS to government to resource the Labour administration institutions including labour department, Fair wages and Salaries Commission, The National labour commission to empower them to deal with industrial disputes effectively.

The TUC, he said is satisfied with the performance of government adding that the social intervention policies being implemented by government are already yielding positive results.

The meeting is part of government policy of meeting interest groups across the country.

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has already met with the Ghana Anti Corruption coalition and some traditional rulers.

It afforded the president to get a first hand information on labour issues.

Representatives of the member unions were present at the meeting.

The Secreatary General of TUC, Dr. Yaw Baah set the tone for the meeting when he outlined a number of issues bothering the congress.

Dr. Yaw Baah said the labour environment has been peaceful but warned it will not be sustainable unless labour and government work together.

In addition to the regular dialogue, the TUC asked government to resource institutions such as the NLC, the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations and the Fair wages and salaries commission.

Dr. Yaw Baah singled out the NLC which he said needs special attention.

He asked government to give the necessary incentives to the Commission to enable it clear the huge backlog of cases.

Dr, Yaw voiced strong objections to privitisation of key government institutions.

He mentioned the ECG concession and the sale of VRA plants.

He suggested some proposals to government to reform SSNIT

The TUC Secreatry General touched on second tier pension scheme, the textile industry and commended the government for promoting made in Ghana goods and occupational health and safety.

Employment and Labour Relations Minister Ignatius Baffour-Awuah, who briefed the media after the closed-door meeting, said the President was emphatic that he will ensure no ECG worker is made worse off as a result of the privatization of the national power distributor.

Source: Flag Staff House, Accra