The Western Regional Industrial Relations Manager for the General Transport Petroleum and Chemical Workers Union, Mr. Francis Sala, has challenged the GNPC to come clear on whether they are an HR outsourcing company for the oil companies who are opening bases in Takoradi. Mr Sala said the country’s labour laws are being violated with impunity by some oil companies as most of the workers have no right to unionization. He said most of the workers have no protection or any bargaining agreement with the oil companies since the oil company’s claim the workers were engaged for them by GNPC. Mr. Sala says almost every month he gets reports of some worker in an oil company being wrongfully fired by his employer. According to him, whenever the labour office has mediated in such labour problems, most of the oil company’s have argued that the GNPC engaged such laborers on their behalf. He wondered why the GNPC is playing the role of an HR outsourcing agency. Mr Sala noted that the strong stance from some oil companies to prevent their labour force to be unionized is indicative of their resolve to continue disrespecting the country’s labor laws in connivance with some faceless people in the GNPC. Story by Kwaku Owusu Preprah