A three-day strategic joint review of the Shea Sector Collective Bargaining Agreement forum has opened in Tamale to strengthen labour relations and promote decent working conditions within Ghana’s shea industry.

The event, organised by the General Agricultural Workers Union (GAWU) of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) in collaboration with the Ghana Employers’ Association (GEA), brought together key stakeholders from government, labour unions, employers, and civil society organisations.

Participants at the forum included representatives from the Department of Labour, the GEA, TUC, GAWU and other partners working to improve labour standards in the shea sector.

The initiative is being supported by the International Labour Organization (ILO) under the Productivity Ecosystems for Decent Work programme with funding support from the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) and the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD).

Madam Silje Vevatne, Counsellor at the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Ghana, speaking during the opening of the forum, said Norway was proud to support initiatives that strengthened social dialogue and tripartite cooperation in labour relations.

She commended the ILO and its partners for facilitating the review process and advancing decent work opportunities in Ghana.

She said, “We are very proud and encouraged by the progress achieved under this programme.” 

She mentioned that notable achievements included the drafting of a new labour bill, the establishment of strong sectoral associations and collaborative policy engagements aimed at promoting economic growth while ensuring decent working conditions for workers.

She said the ongoing work toward a collective bargaining agreement in the shea sector was a significant milestone that would improve labour relations and support sustainable development within the industry.

She expressed optimism that the discussions during the review would produce fruitful outcomes to strengthen the agreement and enhance working conditions for actors within the sector.

Mr Wumbei Abukari, Northern Regional Industrial Relations Officer of GAWU-TUC said the collective bargaining agreement represented an important step towards improving labour standards within Ghana’s largely informal shea sector.

He said through the combined efforts of the ILO and other social partners, the agreement would help create fairer working conditions for workers, who depended on the sector for their livelihoods.

He emphasised that “With so many workers depending on this space, its impact can help build better and fairer work.” 

Mr Abukari expressed appreciation to all partners, who had contributed to the development and review of the agreement and emphasized need to translate the commitments into practical outcomes that would benefit workers and enterprises in the shea value chain.

The review workshop is expected to provide a platform for stakeholders to examine existing provisions in the agreement, identify gaps and propose improvements aimed at strengthening labour protections and productivity in the shea industry.

Source : GNA