Government directs mining firms to protect workers’ wages under contract mining policy

The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources has directed the Minerals Commission to ensure that mining workers do not suffer reductions in salaries, allowances and other benefits as companies transition from owner mining to contract mining.

The directive was given by the Ministry in a press released on October 21, 2026 after the Ghana Mineworkers’ Union, human resource experts and other stakeholders raised concerns about the potential impact of the transition on workers’ welfare.

“These engagements have clarified the regulatory and policy basis of the contract mining directive and reaffirmed the Government’s firm position that no worker shall be rendered worse off as a consequence of its implementation,” the Ministry said.

The statement added that Ghanaian contract mining workers must enjoy “salaries, wages, allowances, benefits and other incentives equivalent to those applicable to an owner mining worker performing comparable work before the transition to contract mining.”

Under the new measures, the Minerals Commission is expected to ensure that workers engaged by mining contractors or similar service providers do not experience any deterioration in their conditions of service.

The ministry also directed the Minerals Commission to take steps to harmonise salaries, wages and conditions of service across the mining industry value chain.

These measures, according to the ministry, follows consultations with the leadership of the Ghana Mineworkers’ Union, industry experts and other relevant stakeholders to address concerns about the implementation of the policy.

The directive forms part of efforts to strengthen local participation in Ghana’s mining industry.