NLC restrains Tema Port expansion workers from strike
The National Labour Commission (NLC) has restrained the outsourced workers of the Tema Port expansion project from engaging in any illegal strike.
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In its ruling, dated June 23, 2017, the commission said, ”The respondent Union are further restrained from engaging in any illegal action of any kind”.
China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC), which is executing the port expansion project, petitioned the NLC to seek clarification on its contractual obligations to outsourced workers from the third party, L’aine Services, and the union.
Permanent employment demands
The NLC also restrained the union and the workers of L’aine Services Limited from coercing CHEC to directly employ them.
“That is no privity of contract between L’aine Services and CHEC and hence it shall not be lawful for the workers of L’aine Services either acting by themselves or their representatives to seek to negotiate conditions of service directly with CHEC.”
The workers had demanded permanent employment directly with CHEC but an official of the company who pleaded anonymity said, “CHEC lacks the legal capacity to do so because their employer is the third party.”
According to the official, the workers were aware of the ruling of the NLC, hence their decision to seek national attention by embarking on the illegal strike.
Why outsource?
CHEC outsources all its human resource needs as it wants to solely focus on the construction and engineering works at the harbour.
The Tema Port expansion project site has experienced two strikes but they could not truncate the progress of work as they were shortlived.
The $1.5 billion project, when completed, will turn the Tema Harbour into a mega-size port capable of accommodating many and larger container ships, as well as improving cargo handling.
The main shareholders are the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority and Meridian Ports Services.
Credit: GNA
