Some of oil and gas workers marching during the May Day celebration
Workers in the oil and gas sector in the country have bemoaned the huge disparities in the salaries of expatriate and Ghanaian workers in the sector.
They, therefore, called on President Nana Akufo-Addo to task the Ministries of Employment and Energy to collaborate with the relevant stakeholders to develop a comprehensive National Salary Structure for players in the oil and gas sector.
This, according to them, would help address the huge disparities in the salaries, as is currently being done in oil producing countries such as Norway and Angola.
They also called on the Petroleum Commission and the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) to enforce the Local Content and Participation Regulations to help address the illegalities perpetrated by some of the oil and gas companies.
The workers, who are members of the General Transport, Petroleum and Chemical Workers’ Union (GTPCWU) of Trade Union Congress (TUC), disclosed this to journalists at yesterday’s celebration of May Day by Organized Labour at the Takoradi Jubilee Park.
The enthusiastic workers carried placards with inscriptions such as “Make teaching attractive,” “Pay all arrears due teachers”, “Stop Galamsey to save water bodies,” “Save VRA to produce power affordably” and Ghana needs more midwives,” among others.
Members of the Maritime and Dock Workers Union, National Association of Teachers, Teachers and Educational Workers Union of Ghana, Ghana Manganese Company Limited, Audit Service, Takoradi Flour Mill Limited, State Housing Corporation and Health Service Workers Union took part in the May Day celebration.
The others were the China Railway Cooperation, Intertek Mineral Limited, Egem Services Limited, Public Service workers Union, Timber Wood Workers Union and Local Government Workers Union.
It was on the theme, “Sustainable Development Goals and decent Work: The Role of Social Partners.”
The sub-contract workers of Orsam Oil and Gas in the Western Region and the entire members of the workers’ union, at a general meeting held on April 27, 2018, resolved to expose certain violation of the various provisions of the Local Content and Participation Law by some oil and gas companies.
A resolution jointly signed by the Regional Industrial Relations Officer of Western and Central Regions, Richard Hanson and Nii Ashitey Attram, Regional Council First Trustee of GTPCWU and copied to DAILY GUIDE, expressed concern about the violation of the provisions in the local content law by most oil and gas companies.
According to the resolution, Section 17 (5) of the Local Content Law 2013 states that if a qualified Ghanaian is not employed in the sector because of lack of certain expertise, the contractor or sub-contractors must make reasonable effort to provide training to the Ghanaian.
It also indicated that a contractor in the oil and gas sector should, as part of the employment and training plans, submit to the Petroleum Commission a succession plan for any employment position occupied by a non-Ghanaian.
The workers added that under the succession plan, Ghanaians would understudy the non-Ghanaians for a period determined by the Commission so that they would assume the positions later.
The Local Content Law also stipulates that entities engaged in petroleum activities should employ only Ghanaians in the junior and middle level positions in the sector.
They mentioned that the junior and middle positions in the sector include foreman, supervisor or any corresponding position designated as such.
They disclosed that most of the oil and gas companies had allegedly refused to adhere to the local content and participation law and called on the Petroleum Commission to regulate and ensure strict enforcement.
The oil and gas workers resolved that the enforcement of the local content law would help reduce the rampant industrial strikes in the sector.
They presented the resolution to the Western Regional Minister, Dr Kweku Afriyies for onward submission to the president.
From Emmanuel Opoku, Takoradi