Wednesday, February 19, 2014

GHANA: GHACEM cement loading workers demonstrate

Workers of Western Brothers Loaders’ Company (WBLC) contracted by Ghana Cement (GHACEM) company to distribute cement products from the manufacturing site to wholesalers on Monday demonstrated against management over low salaries and bad working conditions.

The workers, numbering over 100, wore red bands, chanted war songs and converged in front of the company’s premises.

Many of the aggrieved workers who spoke to the Ghana News Agency in Takoradi expressed concern about delay in paying their monthly salaries which they claimed had brought economic hardships to their families.

The workers expressed their displeasure over the manner in which management had been handling their concerns which have had adverse effects on the workforce.

Some of the workers alleged that for long time, they had not been able to openly express their displeasure about poor remunerations because they feared losing their jobs.

Nana Kwame, a loading worker, alleged that since the time he started working for the company there had not been any increment in his salary of GH¢300.00 and neither had he received any annual bonus.

He said cement loaders, most of whom are casual workers, were therefore calling on the management to increase their monthly salary from GH¢300.00 to GH¢500.00.

He said due to the dusty nature of the road leading to the cement factory, most of the workers contracted respiratory infections and, therefore, appealed to the management to consider instituting measures to take care of their health needs.

Meanwhile, none of the management members was around to react to the allegations by the workers.

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