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The Ghana Employers' Association (GEA) has called on the Akufo-Addo government to take measures to prevent companies from its members from collapsing due to the ongoing project of expanding the port of Tema.
The project is a public-private partnership between the Ghana Ports and Harbors Administration (GPHA), representing government services and Meridian Ports Services (MPS).
This implies a modernization and significant expansion of Ghana's main seaport.
However, according to a statement issued by the badociation, "with the monopoly rights of MPS under the project, the Ghana Ports and Harbors Authority (GPHA) and other operators of the port of Tema, such as the Terminal Operators, Inland Container Deposits (ICDs), Handling Companies, Shore Handling Companies, among others, run the risk of losing huge revenues, which could lead to the bankruptcy of many container companies , handling companies, digitization services and job losses. "
They want the government to take immediate action to engage port-enclave operators in in-depth discussions and agreement on conditions to ensure business continuity for these companies.
Below the complete statement:
CONCERNS ABOUT THE TEMA PORT EXPANSION PROJECT
We would like to draw your attention to some concerns of members of the Ghana Employers Association (GEA) operating in the merchant marine sector and ports that need urgent attention in order to preserve their businesses from the imminent collapse resulting from the current extension of the port of Tema. Project.
These concerns include the following:
1. The future of companies providing scanner / inspection services 2. The fate of container service companies 3. Considerable job losses that could result from the project 4. Recruitment of new employees to replace existing qualified personnel 5 Influx handling companies in the port enclave.
Despite the benefits that this country could derive from this project, GEA is concerned about these commercial concerns and emerging issues badociated with the project.
With the monopoly rights of MPS under the project, the Ghana Ports and Harbors Authority (GPHA) and other Tema port operators, such as terminal operators, inland container depots (ICDs), handling and land handling companies, among others, run the same risk of losing huge revenues, which could lead to the bankruptcy of many companies related to containers, handling companies, scanning services and job losses.
recommendations:
It is in this context that GEA recommends the following:
1. That the Ministries of Commerce, Industry and Transport take immediate action to engage port enclave operators in an in-depth discussion and agreement on conditions guaranteeing the continuity of the commercial activities of the port. these companies. 2. That the Ministries of Commerce, Industry and Transport specifically engage Ghana Port Authorities (GPHA) and Meridian Port Services (MPS) on issues raised by operators given the potential impact unemployment, loss of income and the social implications that may be badociated with the expansion project. 3. In more distinctive terms, GEA requests that the service agreement concluded between the Government of Ghana and the various scanning and inspection services be implemented in order to avoid any distortion . 4. That the Department of Transport take steps to engage Meridian Port Services (MPS) to absorb existing experienced employees who may be laid-off in inland container depots instead of recruiting employees from elsewhere. to reduce the work considerable losses. 5. That the question regarding the registration and regulation of handling companies should be properly evaluated in order to maintain the viability and sustainability of the company. 6. That, since the Ghana Dock Labor Company (GDLC) has played an important role over the years in ensuring the coherence and reliability of the provision of labor services to ports, its services should be used permanently to meet the labor needs of new establishments.
The future of scanner and inspection services
On the future of companies that currently provide scanner and inspection services in ports. Members state that, although the digitization and inspection services will be a major component of the new project, they will probably be totally eliminated given the MPS posture and other official information collected.
Already, scanning and inspection companies offering scanning services at ports have already made a long-term agreement with the government to provide scanning and inspection services that they have invested heavily in equipment, machinery and equipment. and qualified personnel for the performance of the service. They expect the loss of about 400 jobs as they shut down their operations under the new facility.
Similarly, previous discussions with the Ministry of Transport and other government officials of the Ministries of Trade and Transport on their concerns have not addressed issues related to the status of their activities.
Concerns about problems related to the loss of employment and the fate of GDLC
Members also complained about the huge job losses that may occur when the project starts.
Ghana Dock Labor Company Limited (GDLC), a limited liability company established in 2002 by Dock Labor Employers (DLE) and the Union of Port and Maritime Workers of the United Kingdom, whose main mandate is to provide causal work at the port and its surroundings, bears the risk of firing about 3000 people at the service of the GPHA.
GDLC should not be a for-profit enterprise, but rather a pool in which all stakeholders operating in the port will take on labor at a cost determined by the GPHA (Regulatory Authority), the DLEs and the MDUs. The records show that this arrangement was a thoughtful idea, designed to streamline the port operations and constant agitations of the Dockers operating in the port of that time.
Once again, the agreement was intended to help the GPHA meet its human resource requirements related to the irregular structure of ship calls as part of the 2002 port reforms. To this end, experts in port work and union leaders have been sent abroad to study port work management best practices. replicate the model in Ghana, hence the introduction of GDLC. Since its inception, GDLC has fulfilled its mandate of providing a highly qualified and experienced workforce to port operators.
With nearly 4,000 men and women in its pool, GDLC serves companies such as GPHA, Atlantic Ports Services, Advanced Manure Services, Golden Gate Services, Speedline Onboard Processing Company, Hull Blyth, Scanship, Keyport, Grimaldi, Antrack, Tema Container Terminal, Meridian Port Services and many more.
The GDLC has provided various skills to ports and surrounding areas, including crane operators, navigators, dockers, masons, painters, carpenters, electricians, plumbers, material handlers, material handlers, material handlers, receptionists, drivers, drivers, caretakers, and others. housekeeping, housekeeping attendants, pool attendants, security specialists, landscapers, cleaners, etc.
GDLC management has therefore repeatedly met with the management of MPS to discuss the possibilities of providing manpower for the construction and operation of the terminal once completed, but this is not the case. Gave no positive result.
However, MPS indicated that their casual labor services would be managed by third-party contractors and could not guarantee allocation to GDLC when the new terminal
becomes operational. Efforts to obtain the names of third-party operators already subscribed by MPS in the new terminal have not received a favorable response. GDLC had hoped to have the opportunity to provide manpower to these companies.
GDLC had the advantage of having the most experienced workers, already trained and adapted to the port field, and hoped that MPS would offer us the first option in supplying and managing the highly qualified workforce for use in the new skilled workforce can quickly adapt to the new technology in the port environment.
The current allocation of GDLC to the MPS has decreased significantly from 7,130 in 2017 to 3,756 in 2018. The gap has been filled by unauthorized labor force personnel operating from the MPS worksite.
Likewise, it is believed that MPS can give GDLC the first option for the current recruitment process without harming its brand, in line with its local content requirement in the dealership agreement.
With regard to local content, it should be noted that about 90% of the workers in the GDLC pool come from the metropolitan area of Tema and its surroundings. The social benefits badociated with employing these people through GDLC have been enormous, since GDLC pays an SSNIT contribution, a provident fund, an annual bonus, and health care to the workers.
The fate of domestic container service and handling companies
Among the other problems that have been raised is the fate of container services companies, where companies run the risk of disappearing, which could have social implications because of the mbadive unemployment that is likely to be created. According to the companies providing container services, they are likely to lose about 1,200 jobs if they lose their business as part of the new facility.
They also complained about the registration of many handling companies, which reduced the number of services provided by existing material handling companies.
GEA believes that the intervention at the ministerial level should be the best option at this stage to quickly solve these problems and to save the many businesses and jobs likely to be lost due to the launch of the new facility at any time. now. .
Thank you.
Yours faithfully,
JOSEPH KINGSLEY AMUAH DIRECTOR, INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS for (DIRECTOR GENERAL)
CC: Chief of Staff
Accra President's Office
GPHA Director General, Tema
The Secretary General of Ghana, TUC
Secretary General MDU Accra
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