April 22, 2015

Employment and Labour relations minister, Haruna Iddrisu has assured management and staff of mining firm, Newmont Ghana Limited that he would not interfere with disciplinary and negotiation processes between the company and its staff.

Haruna Iddrisu at a meeting with the staff and the management of the mining firm pledged that his ministry would also work to ensure an amicable settlement between the management and the staff.

The two have been in a dispute over working conditions and have already been seeking resolution at the Labour commission.

This led dissatisfied mine staff to adopt a “go slow” attitude refusing to work at full capacity at the Kenyasi mines of Newmont.

Two workers at the mines were subsequently interdicted by the management to allow for investigations.

But after intervention from the Labour Relations Minister, both sides agreed to process toward ending the dispute between them.

And the process included the union ensuring to begin normal operations by the 6:00 PM yesterday following which Newmont would have to recall the interdicted staff to resume work by 6:30 PM today.

Newmont Staff Union Secretary, Victor Asare-Gyapong yesterday expressed satisfaction at this process in an interview with Joy FM.

“The minister gave a directive which was unambiguous it was simple straight to the point. He said employees must return to full scale production [by] 6pm today and management must reinstate the two interdicted employees [by] 6pm tomorrow. I am satisfied because it is a win-win situation our company will benefit; our employees will also benefit and I think everyone will be happy. The union will partner management in making sure that discipline is taken care of in the mines”