In
the face of the falling world prices of gold, Ghana’s mineworkers are engaging
managers in the extractive industry to protect workers’ interest.
General-Secretary
of the General Mineworkers Union, Prince William Ankrah, says it has become
critical for the union to avert what he describes as “the lazy management of
option of laying workers off”.
The
National Executive Committee of the Union has been meeting in Obuasi, Ashanti
region to assess the state of the mining industry, whilst analyzing the impact
of the dwindling gold price on State coffers.
Drop
in gold price affects the foreign exchange earnings of the country.
According
to the Ghana Chamber Mines, a dip in international gold prices in the first quarter of 2013,
combined with the high cost of operations is leading companies to review their
work plans and to cut operating cost.
Prince
Ankrah noted that “inspite of the dwindling gold price, we can device other
holistic approach looking at the entire cost structure of the business and see
how we can cut beyond working numbers”.
With
the exception of AngloGold Ashanti, mining firms in Ghana recorded favorable outlook
in the past year.
The
mineworkers however continue to agitate what union leaders say are wide disparities
in industry salary scale, especially among expatriates and local hands.
The
General Secretary observed that such salary gaps discourage maximum productivity
at the workplace.
Prince
Ankrah is not pleased with the posture of the National Labour Commission (NLC)
in addressing grievances to of mineworkers.
The
Union, he says, has resolved to explore internal mechanisms in addressing the salary
disparities.
Story
by Kofi Adu Domfeh
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