Action Aid deeply worried over delay in C190 ratification   

Major non-profit Action Aid Ghana has expressed concerns over the lack of commitment to the passage of the International Labor Organisation’s Convention 190 (ILO C190). 

The Convention on violence and harassment was adopted in June 2019 and is the first international treaty that ensured the world of work was free from violence and harassment, including gender based. 

Ghana has been a member of the ILO since 1957, but the nation is yet to ratify the Convention in spite of sustained efforts by Action Aid and other rights advocacy groups and organisations. 

Ms SheVera Anzagira, Action Aid Ghana’s Programme Manager for the Greater Accra, Volta and Oti Regions told the Ghana News Agency the Organisation feared progress with the ratification of the Convention so far. 

“The C190 is important. It comes in to set some standards at the workplace to make the workplace safe and congenial for all workers, and so, we were thinking and hoping that before this government leaves, they would have ratified the C190 and taken the domestication of this. In that case the State would have formed regulations that would be binding for the private sector to ensure that workplaces are safe for all citizens,” she said. 

Data from the Employment Ministry says more than 60 per cent of private sector workers faced various forms of sexual harassment, yet, according to Ms Anzagira, the C190 did not make it to the list of urgent issues Parliament would be considering with when it reconvenes a week after elections. 

“They are already tabling 22 urgent issues to tackle, and we are not seeing c190 in the 22, so, we are deeply worried that we’ve done so much work on this. I am sure at a point we even thought that it had gone to cabinet for consideration, and we’ve not heard anything going forward. We are deeply worried, and we are encouraging the Minister and officers responsible to follow up and ensure that the issue is not swept under the carpet.” 

Ms Anzagira said Ghanaians should support the ratification of the crucial document as a highly religious nation, adding that it would enhance productivity at the workplace and affect the broader economy. 

“We are calling on every Ghanaian to support the ratification of the C190. It is very critical because when you see the ratio between the public service and the private sector, there are more people in the private sector as compared to the public sector. And even where in the public sector we have rules and regulations governing some of these things, we still see the effect of these things.  

“As Ghanaians we all know that we believe in one religion or the other and in each of these, there are protective orders, and we know that harassment and sexual violence is unaccepted in any of our religions so we think that the Government must, and the Ministry of Employment and labor relations together with the ministry of Gender to come together to ensure they push through the ratification of C190. 

Ms Anzagira assured of the non-profit’s commitment to pulling through the ratification, and said the media as key partner should provide the needed support. 

Source: GNA  

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