Resolution Passed by the 10^th Quadrennial Delegates Conference of the Ghana Mineworkers’ Union of TUC on 26^th August 2011 at Sunyani

1. Considering that social dialogue is a tripartite process that promotes negotiation, consultation and/or exchange of information among stakeholders in achieving issues of common interest in relation to economic and social policies,  that encourages good governance, advances social and industrial stability and boost economic progress; and

1. Recognizing that benefits accruing from Provident Fund and Social Security schemes alone would not be adequate to provide a sound and secured financial future for its members due to the low income levels in the country; and

1. Believing that mineworkers deserve to live in decent accommodation through affordable home ownership arrangements; and

   1. Affirming that workers have a need for, and a right to information, training and genuine consultation on and participation in the preparation and implementation of safety and health measures concerning the hazards and risks they face in the mining industry, and recognizing that it is imperative to prevent any fatalities, injuries or ill health affecting workers or members of the public, or damage to the environment arising from mining operations; and

4.       Concerned that poor job evaluation/rankings has resulted in an inequitable pay structure and unfair working conditions in the mining industry;

5.       Concerned that wide income inequalities that persist in the mining industry is promoting skills flight to other mining economies particular within the sub-region; and

6.       Acknowledging that there is a genuine skill shortage and skills expatriation in the mining industry of Ghana because not many job seekers possess the needed skills mine employers require; and

7.       Concerned about the huge expatriate recruitment for skills that are available in Ghana and its associated high cost of retention; and

9.       Concerned that certain critical personal incomes intended to cushion employees are taxed; and

1. Convinced that corporate social responsibility should not be a matter of choice; and

2. Agreeing that Precious Minerals Marketing Company Limited is the only institution charged with the responsibility of shipping bullion outside the shores of Ghana to generate revenue for the State and control bullion  shipment; and

3. There should be broader and consistent consultations of relevant stakeholders including the Ghana Mineworkers’ Union of TUC, Ghana Chamber of Mines and the Minerals Commission in all decision making processes concerning and affecting the advancement of the mining industry.

11.   Convinced that mining economies and communities must benefit from the operations of mining proceeds through the provision of infrastructural development; and

12.   Aware that mining technology has shifted and not many people can be attracted into the mining industry, resulting in young unemployed youth engaging in dangerous and environmentally destructive activities such as ‘galamsey’ operations; and

13.   Convinced that business opportunities should be created for local businesses to invest in the extractive industry to grow indigenous businesses in Ghana; and

14.   Concerned that the State is losing out in mineral revenue due to the only 10%  government mandatory shares in minerals operations in Ghana as stipulated in Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703); and

15.   Aware that price of gold has soared higher to an unprecedented levels in recent times without any benefit to the State; and

17.   Acknowledging that foreign direct investment is crucial for job creation and economic growth; and

18.   Concerned that the numerous cases of industrial disputes and prolonged unresolved cases before the National Labour Commission over the years create industrial tension and untold stress on workers and their Unions;

Do hereby resolve as follows:

1. The Union will ensure that the End of Service Benefit scheme is negotiated and restored in the Collective Agreement for its members to enhance their terminal benefits and secure their financial future.

1. The Union will negotiate for a Housing Trust Fund to be established by mining companies to support the development and acquisition of affordable homes by mineworkers.

1. The Union would engage mine managements to establish fair, equitable and transparent job evaluations systems that assign employees to right salary scales as per the worth of the jobs they do.

1. The Union would ensure the formulation of a new wage/salary policy through bipartite consultations to bridge the wide income inequalities that exist in the mining industry.

1. Stakeholders in the mining industry should formulate policies to address skills shortage and skills expatriation in the mining industry.

1. Government should enforce the law that promotes succession training plan, capacity building and skills transfer to local employees.

1. Ghana Mineworkers’ Union of TUC as critical stakeholders in the mining industry should be consulted and be involved in the formulation and implementation of policy issues regarding expatriate recruitment.

1. Government should speed up the ratification of ILO Convention 176 which deals with safety and health in mines to guarantee conformity to global occupational health and safety standards and also serve as a precursor to improving on the country’s national mining laws.

1. All critical incomes such as terminal benefits paid to retirees, rent, leave travelling allowances, school fees should be exempted from tax.

1. Corporate social responsibility should be regulated by Government using the Newmont Ghana Gold Limited model as a blueprint for the other mining companies.

1. Government should initiate a comprehensive infrastructural growth agenda to deal with the poor state of roads in mining areas such as Tarkwa, Bogoso, Damang, Huni Valley, Prestea, Bibiani and Obuasi.  Stakeholder’s engagement will be appropriate to foster commitment and ownership. Establish a fund (2% out of 5% royalty) for direct infrastructural development in mining communities.

1. Mining companies should collaborate with the government to develop an alternative livelihood plans/fund to provide young people in the communities with alternative livelihoods that would ensure that young people in these communities do not embark on dangerous and environmentally destructive activities.

2. The 10% Government mandatory shares in mining companies in Ghana should be increased to 25% with further opportunities to procure additional 10% shares in order to have a voice in the management of mining business.

14.   Parliament should expedite action in the consideration of the local content policy into legislation to enable indigenous businesses engage in economic activities in the extractive industries reserved mainly for foreign investors.

1. Mining companies and other extractive industries must be made to pay special windfall profit taxes when commodity prices reach unprecedented peak in any given period.  The current gold price behavior attests to this. Revenue generated from this could be used as a source of revenue to address the infrastructural deficit in the mining economies.

1. Government should establish a mechanism to monitor the direct transactions and export of precious minerals by foreign and local dealers to ensure that all precious minerals are exported only through the Precious Minerals Marketing Company.

1. Ghana Investment Promotion Centre in their quest to woo investors into the country should desist from portraying to potential investors that it is inexpensive to invest in Ghana, particularly with regards to income levels as it results in payment of low wages/salaries on the part of these investors to very qualified Ghanaians.

1. The Ghana Labour Commission should expedite action on all unresolved disputes.  By this we enjoin the GTUC to ensure that the Labour Commission deals with these disputes and also call on government to adequately resource the Commission to perform efficiently.