The Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations is developing a Labour Market Information System that will link employers and job seekers to dialogue on a platform to reduce labour agitations and unrest.
The system would not only inform policy and planning, but also create an accurate database of the employed among all categories of the Ghanaian society.
Nii Armah Ashietey, sector Minister made this known , at the opening session of a two-day labour conference, underway in Sunyani.
Under the theme “enhancing productivity and opportunities for Job creation”, participants, comprising workers in both the formal and informal sectors were drawn from Brong-Ahafo, Ashanti, Upper East, Upper West and Northern Regions.
Nii Ashietey explained that the ministry had worked closely and finalised modalities with its partners, employers and organised labour, and would soon develop an early warning system and deepen public education on labour laws and regulations.
He stated that the new system would also ensure that new jobs were accurately recorded and tracked, while making it possible to coordinate the various job-creation and employment initiatives.
The Sector Minister said recent studies had shown a gulf between the demands of the labour market and the skills of the labour force, particularly the youth.
Nii Ashietey explained that the Ministry had the responsibility to collaborate with accredited skills development institutions to train the youth and unemployed people to acquire requisite skills for gainful employment.
He said moves have been initiated towards the integration of the Ghana Youth Employment and Entrepreneurial Development Agency (GYEEDA) into the Ministry for better management.
Mr Roland Modey, Acting Chief Director at the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations, expressed concern about the depreciation of the Cedi and stressed that with increased productivity its value could be enhanced.
He emphasized that labour unrest and industrial actions continued to be a threat to national peace and therefore, called on various trade unions to always ensure that they resorted to dialogue in addressing labour issues.
Mr Modey reiterated the importance for the Ministry to take time to reflect on urgent and emerging issues on the labour front.
“Since the disengagement of the Department of Social Welfare and the attachment of Labour Relations to our sector Ministry’s fold, there has been the need to review our mandate, re-align our priorities and activities to suit the new task”, he said.