Advertisement

Mr Ignatius Baffour-Awuah, Minister for Employment and Labour Relations.
Mr Ignatius Baffour-Awuah, Minister for Employment and Labour Relations.

Labour Ministry fights to shed off old labeling

It used to be the ‘Ministry of Employment and Social Welfare’ until January 2013 when it was renamed Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations (MELR).

It appears however that a section of the public are stuck with the old name and are not ready to change anytime soon. They keep calling the Labour Ministry by its former name, a deed that appears to irk managers of the Ministry.

On Monday, they issued a reminder to the public, seeking to educate the adamant that the old order has indeed changed.

“The Management of the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations (MELR) has noted with concern the erroneous labelling of the Ministry as the Ministry of Employment and Social Welfare”, the reminder, cast in the shape of a press release, observed, before homing in on the fact that “the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations was created by Executive Instrument 1 (E.I. 1) since January 2013, hence the Ministry has ceased to be known by the designation, the Ministry of Employment and Social Welfare”.

“We wish to bring this anomaly to the attention of all government agencies, our cherished Clients, Stakeholders and Social Partners”, the statement signed on behalf of the sector minister by the Head of Public Affairs Unit of the ministry, Mrs Charlotte Hanson, said.

Below is the full statement:

MINISTRY OF EMPLOYMENT AND LABOUR RELATIONS (MELR) FORMERLY; MINISTRY OF EMPLOYMENT AND SOCIAL WELFARE

The Management of the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations (MELR) has noted with concern the erroneous labelling of the Ministry as the Ministry of Employment and Social Welfare.

We wish to bring this anomaly to the attention of all government agencies, our cherished Clients, Stakeholders and Social Partners.
The Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations was created by Executive Instrument 1 (E.I. 1) since January 2013, hence the Ministry has ceased to be known by the designation, the Ministry of Employment and Social Welfare.

Following the E.I.1, aspects of the social welfare mandate have been re-aligned, and currently under the auspices of the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection.

The Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations which has Cabinet Status, currently has 14 agencies and departments, and as the name implies, is the lead policy advisor to government on matters pertaining to employment and labour relations.

The Ministry per its mandate is responsible for the development of sector plans, formulate and implement policies which aim at creating and promoting decent jobs, management of public sector wages and productivity as well as develop strategies that promote industrial peace and harmony, and the re-settlement of labour disputes.

In addition, the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations resolves pensions and the promotion of co-operatives across occupational groups and ensures occupational health and safety of all workers. We coordinate, monitor and evaluate programmes and projects for accelerated employment creation particularly for the youth and vulnerable persons for national development.

The Management of the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations believes and hopes that with this clarification, it is expected that all references and addresses to the Ministry will henceforth be in tandem with our mandate.
                                                                                         
                                                                                   CHARLOTTE HANSON (MRS)
                                                                                   HEAD OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS UNIT
                                                                                   FOR:  MINISTER

Writer's email: [email protected]

Connect With Us : 0242202447 | 0551484843 | 0266361755 | 059 199 7513 |