Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2019, published 109th ILC session (2021)

Social Policy (Basic Aims and Standards) Convention, 1962 (No. 117) - Ghana (Ratification: 1964)

The Committee notes that the Government’s report contains no reply to its previous comments. It hopes that the next report will contain full information on the matters raised in its previous comments.

Repetition

Articles 1 and 2 of the Convention. General principles. Improvement of standards of living. The Government indicates that the Social Investment Fund (SIF) facilitates access to basic economic and social infrastructure and services through investment. Since its establishment in 1998, the SIF has had an impact on over 4 million people. The Committee requests the Government to provide updated information on the manner in which the provisions of the Convention calling for “all policies” to “be primarily directed to the well-being and development of the population” have been taken into account in the development and implementation of the measures taken under its economic programmes and poverty reduction strategy. The Committee also requests the Government to provide updated information on the impact of the measures implemented to ensure that “the improvement of standards of living” is regarded as “the principal objective in the planning of economic development”.

Article 11(1), (4), (6) and (7). Remuneration of workers. Proper payment of all wages. Prohibition of substitution. Regular payment. Assessment of the adequacy and cash value assessment of payments in kind. The Committee once again requests the Government to state what measures have been taken in order to: ensure that the employer is required to keep registers of wage payments; prohibit the replacement of money payment by alcoholic beverages; ensure that the payment of remuneration is done on a regular basis, so as to lessen the likelihood of indebtedness among workers; and ensure that food, lodging and other essential supplies and services provided which form part of the remuneration are adequate.

Article 12. Advances on wages. The Government indicates that, when a worker is aggrieved by any deduction made by his or her employer and unable to resolve the matter with the said employer, the worker may present a complaint in writing to the Labour Commission in order to seek redress. As regards advances on wages, the Government indicates that labour inspectors ensure that the abovementioned measures are enforced through established inspections. The Committee requests the Government to provide examples of the manner in which the Labour Inspection and the Labour Commission have applied this provision of the Convention.