The Committee for Joint Action (CJA) has expressed alarm at recent developments at Vodafone, a company in which the people of Ghana have 30 per cent.
In a statement issued in Accra, the CJA said �we are extremely worried that Vodafone is about to lay off close to two thousand of its employees.
�This policy will not only serve to compound the already precarious unemployment situation in the country but is also being carried out in a manner that violates the provisions of our labour laws.�
The CJA expressed solidarity with workers of Vodafone and called on the company to desist from unacceptable practices and adhere strictly to the country�s labour and investments laws.
It also urged national institutions which have responsibility in labour and human rights matters, as well as those in charge of �our investment laws to wake up and enforce those laws so that no entity tramples on them.�
The Committee for Joint Action is greatly alarmed at recent developments at Vodafone, an organisation in which the people of Ghana own 40% shares. We are extremely worried that Vodafone is about to lay off close to two thousand of its employees. This policy will not only serve to compound the already precarious unemployment situation in the country, but is also being carried out in a manner that violates the provisions of our labour laws.
In spite of the initial hostile stance taken by workers of Vodafone towards our opposition to the sale of 70% shares of Ghana telecom to Vodafone � which opposition was premised on our determination to avert such repercussions as is being witnessed now in the intended lay-offs, we wish to express our solidarity with the workers of Vodafone in particular, and the Trades Union Congress in general in their fight against this obnoxious and unjust act.
We are also deeply concerned about reports that even as Vodafone claims to be embarking on this retrenchment exercise in order to ensure efficiency in its operations, it is clandestinely employing other people, predominantly expatriates to fill various positions within the organisation. Even more disconcerting are reports that these expatriate workers are for in excess of the allowed number of foreigners who can be employed under our investment laws.
As if this is not worrying enough, these expatriate workers are for in excess of the allowed number of foreigners who can be employed under our investment laws. As if this is not worrying enough, these expatriate workers are being housed in every expensive hotels and apartments and are being driven in luxurious cars at great cost to the company. A situation which could jeopardize its financial position and in effect undermine its capacity to be profitable in order to be able to pay dividends on the 40% shares owned by the people of Ghana.
We call on Vodafone to desist from these unacceptable practices and adhere strictly to the Country�s labour and investment laws.
We also call on government to move away from the passive posture it has adopted and show more interest in the affairs and operations of Vodafone with the view to protecting the nation�s interest as well as safeguarding the rights of the workers. We strongly urge the nation�s institutions which have a responsibility in labour and human rights matters, as well as those in charge of our investment laws to wake up and enforce those laws so that no entity tramples on them.
Finally, we wish to state that we await the report of the committee set up to review the sale of 70% shares Ghana Telecom shares to Vodafone and will make our position known after the report is submitted.
Source: The Insight
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