The Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations (MELR), established by Executive Instrument 1 (EI 1) issued in January 2013, and by Sections 11 and 13 of the Civil Service Act, 1993 (PNDC Law 327), is the lead policy advisor to Government on matters pertaining to employment and labour relations. The Ministry oversees and coordinates employment opportunities and labour-related interventions in all sectors; and is thus responsible for the formulation and implementation of policies aimed at creating and promoting decent jobs, as well as for developing strategies that promote industrial peace and harmony. MELR resolves labour-related disputes in the country, ensures that the occupational safety and health of all workers in both the formal and informal sectors are guaranteed; and also regulates the payment of fair and equitable wages and salaries to employees in all sectors. The Ministry executes its responsibilities through internationally acceptable practices of tripartite consultations with the Sector’s Social Partners.
Mandate
The Ministry is mandated to formulate, plan, coordinate, monitor and evaluate policies, programmes/projects and the performance of the Employment & Labour Relations Sector towards accelerated employment generation for national development; to promote harmonious industrial (labour) relations and ensure workplace safety; as well as to create an enabling policy environment and opportunities for profitable job creation, career and professional development.
Mission
The Ministry exists to co-ordinate employment opportunities and labour-related interventions in all sectors, promote decent jobs and ensure harmonious labour relations in Ghana.
Vision
The Ministry’s vision is to become a world-class Employment and Labour Relations Ministry.
The Policy Objectives pursued by the Ministry are stipulated in the National Medium Term Development Policy Framework (NMTDPF) for the period 2014 – 2017. These Policy objectives form the basis for the medium-term programmes being implemented by the Ministry.
Objectives of the Ministry
The sector Policy Objectives are as follows:
- To promote the goal of full employment in the national economy and to enable all men and women who are available and willing to work, to attain a secured and sustainable livelihood through freely chosen employment and work;
- To secure improvement in the productivity of the labour force in order to improve private sector competitiveness and enhance employability to the extent that labour is afforded quality and well-remunerated employment consistent with productivity;
- To provide the fullest possible opportunity to each worker to qualify for, and to use his/her skills and endowments in a job for which he/she is well-suited, in a non-discriminatory manner;
- To safeguard the basic rights and interests of workers and, to that end, promote respect for relevant International Labour Standards, including those on Forced Labour, Freedom of Association, the Right to Organise and Bargain Collectively, the Principle of Non-Discrimination and Equality of Treatment and Opportunities; and elimination of the worst forms of Child Labour;
- To secure maximum cooperation from, and participation by, the Ghana Employers’ Association (GEA), Organised Labour (OL) and other interested parties in decisions relating to national employment policy, so as to ensure industrial peace and harmony and minimize job losses through labour unrests;
- To stimulate economic growth and development, eradicate poverty and improve the standard of living by minimizing the rates of unemployment and under-employment, and optimizing the utilization of human capital;
- To establish a Management Information System for the sector.
Functions of the Ministry
The core functions of the Ministry are to:
- Initiate, formulate and coordinate sector policies and programmes, as well as schemes to ensure sustainable accelerated employment generation and human capital development;
- Develop strategies and mechanisms to ensure and promote industrial peace and harmony;
- Develop and periodically review all legal and policy instruments for the sector;
- Ensure the development and review of appropriate information management systems to facilitate the availability of timely, relevant and accurate employment and labour statistics;
- Coordinate all national employment initiatives with the collaboration of relevant stakeholders of the economy;
- Ensure the monitoring and evaluation of sector policies, programmes and projects in relation to gainful employment-generation and the promotion of industrial harmony;
- Promote best modern management practices, systems and procedures in all sectors of the economy to enhance labour productivity;
- Ensure fair and equitable wages and salaries for employees in all sectors of the economy;
- Ensure the provision of employable skills and apprenticeship particularly to the youth through vocational and technical training at all levels, to promote decent and sustainable jobs;
- Ensure occupational safety and health for all workers in both the formal and informal sectors;
- Ensure all work places conform to labour laws though labour inspection; and
- Facilitate the development of vibrant co-operatives, medium and small-scale enterprises for employment generation and poverty reduction.
