The Ghana Shea Workers Union (GSWU) of the General Agricultural Workers Union (GAWU) and the Ghana Shea Employers Association have operationalised their Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) in Tamale, to improve the welfare of workers in the shea industry.
The operationalisation was marked by the adoption of a standardised reporting framework and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) aimed at improving labour conditions across the shea value chain.
It is expected to strengthen labour relations, improve workplace standards, and enhance productivity within the country’s growing shea industry.
This followed the successful signing of the industry’s first-ever CBA in March, this year, and marked a significant step towards enforcing workers’ rights and improving welfare standards throughout the sector.
Miss Joan Naab, the President of GSWU announced this furing the Union’s first National Executive Meeting with the Ghana Shea Employers Association in Tamale.
She said the newly adopted reporting framework and SOPs were jointly developed by the Union and major industry employers to ensure the effective implementation of provisions contained in the CBA.
Ms Naab described the development as a transition from negotiating labour rights on paper to enforcing them in practice to protect thousands of workers including rural shea nut collectors and industrial processors.
She said “For far too long, labour agreements in the agricultural sector, particularly within the informal economy, have faced implementation challenges.
“By building a joint reporting system with our employers MN & Dr, we are putting an engine and wheels into our CBA.”
She said the mechanism would ensure that fair wages, maternity protection, workplace safety, and the general welfare of workers remained non-negotiable across the sector.
Ms Naab explained that the framework introduced a structured approach to monitoring workplace conditions and resolving grievances before they escalated into industrial disputes.
She added that the mechanism would guarantee occupational health and safety standards, fair wages and overtime payments, while promoting conflict resolution at the local level to prevent disruptions to productivity.
She stressed that the long-term sustainability of the sector depended largely on the dignity, welfare, and economic security of its workforce.
She said “The sustainability of the shea industry relies entirely on the dignity and economic security of its workers. Protecting workers’ rights is therefore essential to sustaining productivity and growth within the sector.”
Ms Naab commended employers in the shea industry for engaging in constructive dialogue and collaborating with the Union to implement the agreement.
She also expressed appreciation to the International Labour Organization, the Tree Crops Development Authority, GAWU, and other development partners for their continuous support towards advancing decent work and labour rights in the shea sector.
She called on all shea processing companies, exporters, and regulatory institutions to support the full rollout of the reporting mechanism to ensure compliance with the CBA and strengthen industrial relations within the industry.
She urged members of the Union to remain vigilant and promptly report any cases of workplace non-compliance through their local executives.
Source : GNA
