Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2009, published 99th ILC session (2010)

Social Policy (Basic Aims and Standards) Convention, 1962 (No. 117) - Ghana (Ratification: 1964)

1. Parts I and II of the Convention. Improvement of standards of living. The Committee notes the information provided in the Government’s report for the period ending September 2008 containing replies to its 2006 observation. The Government indicates that the Growth and Poverty Reduction Strategy II is the current blueprint for growth, poverty reduction and human resources development. It seeks to effect structural transformation of the economy in the long term so as to accelerate economic growth on a sustainable basis while reducing poverty. In this regard, the Government indicates that it established in 1998, with the African Development Bank and the OPEC Fund for International Development, the Social Investment Fund to mitigate the effects of the economic structural adjustment programme. The Social Investment Fund has had an impact on 1 million people since its establishment, by providing for skills development, building schools in rural areas, and providing microcredit facilities to applicants, of whom 80 per cent were women. Furthermore, the Government indicates that it has set up a Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) programme in March 2008, which seeks to assist 3,200 households in 21 selected districts. The programme provides for selected households to benefit from a minimum of 8 cedis (GHS) and a maximum of GHS15 during the payment period. The programme is being implemented by the Department of Social Welfare under the Ministry of Manpower, Youth and Employment. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide information on the application of the Convention, including such information which will enable it to examine the manner in which it is ensured that “the improvement of standards of living” has been regarded as “the principle objective in the planning of economic development” (Article 2). Please also provide information on the progress made towards achieving the objectives of the Growth and Poverty Reduction Strategy II, and to provide further information on the progress made in implementing the LEAP programme and the results thereof.

2. Part IV. Remuneration of workers. Advances on wages. In response to the Committee’s previous comments, the Government indicates that the Labour Department, through its Labour Inspectorate, ensures that remuneration is executed on a regular basis so as to lessen the likelihood of indebtedness among the workers. In this regard, the Government indicates that section 124(e) of the 2003 Labour Act provides total protection of remuneration in law and in practice and for the inspection of conditions and terms of employment. Furthermore, the Government indicates that measures are in place to prohibit the replacement of cash payments with alcoholic beverages and to ensure that food, lodging and other essential supplies and services provided, which form part of the remuneration, are adequate. Such measures are enforced through labour inspections, further to section 67 of the Labour Act which states that “the whole of the salary, wages and allowances of the worker shall be made payable in legal tender in addition to any non-cash remuneration and accordingly, a contract of employment that contains provisions to the contrary is void”. The Government also indicates that the Labour Inspectorate addresses the maximum amount of repayment of advances authorized and the limit of advances made to a worker in consideration of his taking up employment. The Committee asks the Government to provide more practical information on the manner in which the Labour Inspectorate ensures that full effect is given to the pending issues covered by Article 11(4), (6) and (7); and Article 12(2) and (3).