Tamale: The Ghana Shea Workers Union (GSWU) of the General Agricultural Workers Union (GAWU) and the Ghana Shea Employers Association have operationalised their Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) in Tamale, aiming to improve the welfare of workers in the shea industry. This development involves the adoption of a standardised reporting framework and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to enhance labour conditions across the shea value chain.
According to Ghana News Agency, the operationalisation is expected to bolster labour relations, improve workplace standards, and boost productivity within Ghana's burgeoning shea industry. This initiative follows the successful signing of the industry's first-ever CBA in March of this year, marking a crucial step toward enforcing workers' rights and elevating welfare standards throughout the sector.
Miss Joan Naab, President of GSWU, announced the operationalisation during the Union's first National Executive Meeting with the Ghana Shea Employers Association in Tamale. She explained that the newly adopted reporting framework and SOPs were collaboratively developed by the Union and major industry employers to ensure the effective implementation of the CBA's provisions.
Ms Naab highlighted the transition from negotiating labour rights on paper to enforcing them in practice, aimed at protecting thousands of workers, including rural shea nut collectors and industrial processors. She remarked that labour agreements in agriculture, particularly within the informal economy, have historically faced implementation challenges. By establishing a joint reporting system with employers, the Union is driving the actualisation of the CBA.
The mechanism is set to guarantee that fair wages, maternity protection, workplace safety, and the general welfare of workers remain priorities across the sector. Ms Naab noted that the framework introduces a structured approach to monitoring workplace conditions and resolving grievances before they escalate into industrial disputes.
She emphasized that the long-term sustainability of the shea sector largely depends on the dignity, welfare, and economic security of its workforce. Protecting workers' rights is thus essential to sustaining productivity and growth within the sector.
Ms Naab commended shea industry employers for engaging in constructive dialogue and collaborating with the Union to implement the agreement. She also expressed gratitude to the International Labour Organization, the Tree Crops Development Authority, GAWU, and other development partners for their continuous support in advancing decent work and labour rights in the shea sector.
She urged all shea processing companies, exporters, and regulatory institutions to support the full implementation of the reporting mechanism to ensure CBA compliance and strengthen industrial relations within the industry. She encouraged Union members to remain vigilant and promptly report any cases of workplace non-compliance through their local executives.