NLC directs workers of NIA to return to work immediately

The National Labour Commission (NLC) has ordered striking workers of the National Identification Authority (NIA) to call off their strike.

On Wednesday, 12th June 2024, the NLC declared as illegal and unwarranted the indefinite strike commenced by some staff of the NIA on Monday, 10th June.

The NLC found that the declaration of strike by the staff contravened Section 161 of the Labour Act 2003 (Act 651) which makes it illegal for a party to declare strike when negotiations are ongoing – “(1) A party to an industrial dispute shall not resort to a strike or lockout during the period when negotiation, mediation or arbitration proceedings are in progress. – (2), A party who contravenes subsection (1) is liable for the damage, loss or injury suffered by any other party to the dispute”.

Accordingly, the NLC ordered that the strike be called off with immediate effect and that the National Union of the Public Service Workers Union (PSWU) of the TUC (Ghana), which is the mother union of the NIA Division of the PSWU, should ensure that the striking staff return to work immediately.

The NLC further directed the PSWU to return to the negotiations being chaired by the Fair
Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC). The parties are to report to the NLC on 3rd July 2024. Though duly summoned by the NLC, the leadership of the NIA Division of the PSWU was absent at the hearing today.

The NLC directed the parties to attend the next negotiations meeting scheduled for Friday, 14th June 2024, at the NIA Headquarters, and to negotiate in good faith.

The Deputy General Secretary of the Public Sector Workers Union of the Trades Union Congress, representing the NIA workers, John Sampa, indicated that the strike would only be called off after meeting with its leadership for a final resolution.

“We think that we want peace, we are ready to call our members to comply with the directive, I’m unable to say here now we have called off the strike action. Because I’m representing people, we’re going to call them, we will put our options on the table, we will deliberate upon it and the decision that we will take, we will communicate to Ghanaians.“We’re ready to dialogue, as long as we see the commitment on the government’s side that the same way workers of other institutions have been treated, workers of NIA also deserve better.”