Always ensure the protection of workers’ rights – Trade Unions urged

Trade Unions have been urged to strengthen collaboration and work to ensure that the rights of their members are protected.
They should also strengthen advocacy to eradicate forced labour and promote decent work for employees at all levels.
Mr Andrews Tagoe, Deputy General Secretary of the General Agricultural Workers Union (GAWU) of the Trades Union Congress (TUC), who made the call said it was the mandate and responsibility of trade unions to ensure that forced labour was eliminated.
Speaking to the Ghana News Agency in an interview in Kumasi, Mr Tagoe also urged trade unions to strengthen the fight against child labour and human trafficking in the country.
He said the core mandate of trade unionism was to defend, promote and protect the rights and socio-economic interest of workers.
This mandate, the TUC in Ghana had been able to discharge effectively through active participation of the unions in policy decisions and implementation, especially on those affecting the welfare of workers.
He said child labour and human trafficking for forced labour continued to be a challenge and called on the unions to strengthen advocacy to combat the phenomenon.
According to Mr Tagoe, forced labour was a key barrier to decent work and violated labour principles and standards
He said in Ghana, some workers in the private and informal sectors were under serious exploitation, work in poverty and denied their right to organise and bargain collectively.
Mr Tagoe stressed the need for employers to ensure that workers received what they deserved to promote industrial harmony and increased productivity.