The Industrial and Commercial Workers’ Union of Ghana (ICU-Ghana) has called for stronger global and national efforts to end precarious work, particularly in Africa, where casual and contract labour continues to undermine workers’ rights and dignity.
In a statement issued to mark World Day for Decent Work, observed annually on October 7, the union decried the growing trend of outsourcing, fixed-term, and casual employment arrangements that deprive millions of workers of basic rights and social protection.
General Secretary of ICU-Ghana, Morgan Ayawine emphasised that while the union welcomes investments and job creation by multinational and transnational corporations, it will not tolerate the exploitation of Ghanaian workers under substandard employment practices.
“Exploitation and discrimination under outsourcing (casual/contract) work regime have placed millions of workers in servitude. It is heart wrenching to see two people in same establishment doing the same jobs, but one enjoys social protection benefits like paid leave, social security contributions, healthcare, while the other does not”.
He added that the growing dominance of outsourcing and casualisation is undermining the protection of workers’ rights at an alarming speed and debasing workers’ dignity, stressing that such practices contravene the International Labour Organisation (ILO) conventions on decent work.
The union noted that in many multinational and transnational companies operating in Ghana, contract and casual workers now outnumber permanent employees, even though they perform the same tasks and work equal hours.
It warned that the increasing conversion of permanent roles into temporary or fixed-term contracts is eroding job security and worsening economic inequality. Job scarcity, the statement said, has forced many workers to endure poor working conditions and low pay for fear of losing their livelihoods.
The ICU-Ghana is calling for a renewed commitment from all social partners, government, employers, and unions to tackle precarious work through stronger legislation, enforcement, and education.
The ICU-Ghana reiterated its solidarity with global labour movements in pushing for an end to exploitative work practices, calling for policies that ensure all working people can work in dignity and enjoy the fruits of their labour, both now and after retirement.
