GEA Seeks Better Employer-Regulator Understanding of Labour Rules
The Ghana Employers’ Association (GEA) has called for stronger engagement between businesses and labour regulators to help employers understand workplace requirements and reduce the risk of costly compliance problems.
GEA Chief Executive Officer, Alex Frimpong, said regular engagement was needed to bridge gaps in understanding between employers and regulatory institutions, particularly on occupational safety and health, pensions, social security and labour relations.
He made the call at the maiden dialogue between employers and labour regulators, organised by the GEA in collaboration with the Confederation of Norwegian Enterprise (NHO).
The meeting brought together representatives of the National Labour Commission, Labour Productivity Institute, Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT), Factories Inspectorate and Labour Department.
Closing the compliance gap
Mr Frimpong said employers and regulators had dealt with a range of concerns over the past decade, making direct engagement important to ensure that businesses understood both their obligations and the consequences of non-compliance.
He said regulations were necessary to maintain standards in the workplace, but businesses needed greater clarity on how the rules applied to their operations.
“How conversant are we with them?” he asked, referring to the laws and regulations governing employment.
A lack of understanding, he said, could expose businesses not only to regulatory sanctions but also to reputational damage and strained relations with employees and regulators.
He said the dialogue offered employers an opportunity to engage directly with the institutions responsible for enforcing labour regulations and obtain practical guidance on their obligations.
Workplace safety goes beyond accidents
Mr Frimpong also called for a broader understanding of occupational safety and health, saying workplace risks were not limited to accidents and physical hazards.
He pointed to office environments, where poor sitting posture and inadequate ergonomic practices could contribute to long-term physical problems.
“Most of us in offices, your sitting posture, your understanding of ergonomic practices can create long-term physical problems for you,” he said.
He encouraged businesses and employees to pay greater attention to workplace safeguards and to treat occupational health as part of everyday working conditions rather than only as a response to accidents.
Building a more informed labour market
Mr Frimpong also encouraged employers, regulators and other participants to use the dialogue to develop stronger professional relationships.
He said bringing the various institutions and businesses together created an opportunity for participants to better understand one another’s roles and maintain channels for future engagement.
“You never know whether your next employee is sitting to your left or right,” he said.
The dialogue is intended to strengthen engagement between employers and labour regulatory institutions while giving businesses practical insight into occupational safety and health obligations, workplace risks and emerging compliance requirements.
For the GEA, sustained engagement should help employers better understand the rules governing their workplaces while giving regulators a clearer view of the practical challenges businesses face in meeting those requirements.
