National Communications Director for the opposition National Democratic Party (NDC) has reiterated the party’s commitment to ending unemployment in the country.

Sammy Gyamfi says the NDC will introduce an employment act which will provide a comprehensive framework for job creation and labour market
statistics.

“The goal of the next NDC/Mahama government is to create shared prosperity for all and not a select few, by creating enough sustainable jobs that pay well enough.

“This will avoid the problem of “working poor”, where workers’ wages are so low that they cannot meet the basic necessities of life and remain poor even though they are working,” Sammy Gyamfi said at the NDC’s weekly press briefing.

The NDC has promised to create 1 million jobs with decent wages for Ghanaians if given the nod in the upcoming elections.

This, the party has noted is to provide for the youth a decent living.

“We are committed to the creation of sustainable jobs for the Ghanaian people because we are fully aware that the youth and people of this country deserve decent employment to be able to afford a decent living for themselves and their families.

“This is what informed the theme of the Peoples’ manifesto: ‘Jobs and Prosperity for All’,” he added.

He further noted that the NDC will introduce a three-shift working system, where workers will made to work on a mandatory eight-hour shift.

This, Mr Gyamfi noted will create more jobs in the country.

“Given Ghana’s small market size of only 31 million people and a per capita income of $2,200, we intend to embark an aggressive promotion of exports, which will lead to a high demand for labour to meet increased production for both domestic consumption and export.

“To accommodate this anticipated demand for Ghanaian goods and services, the next NDC Government will create a 3-shift economy, especially in manufacturing and other high-end services, which operates 24 hours non-stop. Thus, the additional two shifts will be a source of additional employment.

He added that companies that currently operate 24 hours with only two shifts of 12 hours each in violation of the labour law (which specifies a maximum of 8 hours), will be required to run three shifts and thus create a third stream of jobs.

He also stated that the party will decentralise and convert the Labour Office into the National Employment Bureau equipped with state of-the-art facilities and Grant tax-waivers to employers who employ workers through the Bureau.