The Industrial and Commercial Workers’ Union (ICU), Ghana has charged government to provide distressed businesses with stimulus package to recover from Covid-19.

According to the Union, the ravages of the pandemic is still having a serious ripple effect on the ability of businesses that were affected to bounce back to business, and on the ability of workers who lost their jobs to make ends meet.

This is contained in a messaged on 2022 May Day issued by the ICU’s General Secretary, Morgan Ayawine.

“For businesses that were effectively distressed by the COVID-19 pandemic and so had to completely shut down, we suggest a government stimulus package to resuscitate them to enable them bounce back to business", he said.
Mr. Ayawine added “this would, no doubt, enable workers to regain and protect their jobs and incomes which would in turn impact positively on the economic growth and development of our nation.”

Recapitalisation

Meanwhile, the ICU General Secretary has encouraged ‘capable’ businesses to increase their capital adequacy in order to improve their profit margins through improved productivity.

He said, “In our considered opinion, businesses that are capable should recapitalize their businesses to increase their production capacity to the full for increased profitability.”

Mutual Sacrifices

According to the ICU, the exigencies of the current business environment as imposed by the negative impact of the pandemic, has thrusted upon both workers and employers the need for mutual sacrifices, so as to sustain businesses and to retain jobs.

The union says it is ‘heartbreaking’ that since the advent of the novel virus some two (2) years ago, a lot of businesses that cut down on their operations to half their capacity, and others that completely shut down, have still not fully recovered.

Mr. Ayawine has, however, appealed to social partners, to as well play the roles expected of them by placing at the disposal of workers, the necessary facilities and motivational remuneration that can incentivize workers to give of their best to achieve increased productivity and profitability for our mutual benefit.

About May Day

International Workers’ Day of Solidarity (May Day) is observed on the 1st of May and has been dedicated in memory and celebration of heroic workers who, long ago on 4th of May, 1886, at the Haymarket Square in Chicago, USA where at least eight (8) trade Union activists sacrificed their lives, died and liberated workers all over the world.

The theme for this year’s celebration is “Protecting Jobs and Incomes in the Era of Covid-19 Pandemic and beyond.”