Ghana's NLC urged to prepare for AI, climate change labour challenges

Ghana's National Labour Commission (NLC) faces a critical juncture, needing to bolster its capacity to address emerging labor challenges driven by artificial intelligence, climate change, and digital transformation. This call to action emerged during a stakeholders' forum in Accra, marking the NLC's 20th anniversary under the theme "Two Decades of the Work of the National Labour Commission: Lessons, Experience, Challenges and the Way Forward."

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the future of work demanded resilient and forward-looking labour institutions capable of anticipating and addressing emerging employment challenges.

Government officials, employers, and organized labor gathered to evaluate the NLC's performance over the past two decades and chart a course for enhanced effectiveness. The Chief Director of the Ministry of Labour, Jobs and Employment, Hamidu Adakurugu, speaking on behalf of the minister, stressed the need for resilient and forward-looking labor institutions. He urged the NLC to embrace technology, intensify research, expand its regional presence, and foster international partnerships to navigate evolving workplace dynamics.

Dr. Bernice A. Welbeck, Executive Secretary of the NLC, highlighted the importance of adhering to Ghana's labor laws to minimize workplace disputes and promote decent work. She noted that disputes stemming from employment termination constitute a significant portion, about 58 percent, of the Commission's caseload. This prompted a call for employers to strictly follow due process in disciplinary actions and dismissals.

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disputes arising from termination of employment accounted for about 58 per cent of cases handled by the Commission, and urged employers to strictly adhere to due process when disciplining or dismissing workers.

Justice Sir Dennis Dominic Adjei, Chairman of the NLC, lauded the Commission's role as a cornerstone of Ghana's industrial relations. He detailed its success in resolving numerous disputes through mediation, arbitration, and adjudication over the past 20 years, contributing to industrial peace and national stability. The forum concluded with a collective call to build a stronger, more responsive NLC capable of meeting the demands of Ghana's dynamic labor market.

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the Commission’s work had significantly contributed to industrial peace and national stability and called on stakeholders to build a stronger, more responsive institution capable of meeting the demands of Ghana’s evolving labour market.