The Minister for Labour, Jobs and Employment, Emmanuel Kwadwo Agyekum, has assured the National Labour Commission (NLC) of the Ministry’s support to address the Commission’s pressing challenges of inadequate office space and staff shortages. The Minister gave the assurance when he paid a working visit to the Commission’s headquarters to familiarise himself with its operations and assess some of the challenges affecting the effective delivery of its mandate.
Briefing the Minister, the Executive Secretary of the NLC, Dr. Bernice Welbeck, said the Commission currently has fewer than 50 staff across its national and regional offices, against an approved staff requirement of 147. She explained that the shortage had been compounded by difficulties in securing financial clearance to replace staff who had left the Commission, placing additional pressure on the existing workforce.
According to Dr. Welbeck, the Commission handles an average of 550 complaints each year, with the disputes affecting large numbers of workers. She noted that a significant proportion of the cases relate to the termination and dismissal of employees.
The Executive Secretary also drew attention to the Commission’s inadequate office accommodation, which has resulted in serious overcrowding and made it difficult for staff to conduct hearings and carry out their administrative duties effectively. She said industrial relations officers sometimes have to share small offices while conducting hearings, with limited workspace available for staff and other stakeholders who visit the Commission.
In response, Hon. Agyekum directed that a dedicated team be constituted to develop a comprehensive proposal for a new permanent office complex for the NLC. The proposal, he said, should cover the requirements for land acquisition, the proposed structure and other facilities, as well as the financial resources needed for the project. The document would form the basis for further engagement with the Ministry of Finance and other relevant authorities.
The Minister also assured the Commission that he would personally engage the relevant authorities to help address the delays in securing financial clearance for the recruitment of additional staff. As an immediate measure to ease the pressure on the Commission, he said arrangements would be explored with the National Service Scheme to deploy between five and six personnel to support the Commission’s administrative work this year.
Hon. Agyekum further stressed the need to strengthen the Commission’s presence in the regions, particularly in the northern parts of the country, to make dispute-resolution services more accessible to workers and employers. He indicated that the Ministry would also engage Regional Ministers on the nomination of government representatives to fill existing vacancies on regional labour committees.
The Minister reiterated the Ministry’s commitment to strengthening labour institutions and creating the conditions necessary for them to effectively deliver on their respective mandates and contribute to industrial harmony and decent work in Ghana.
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