Mass Layoffs: Shocking 900+ Cases of Unfair Termination Exposed in New Report
A staggering 973 cases of unfair termination of employees' contracts have been recorded in Ghana from 2020 to 2025, according to a new report by the National Labour Commission (NLC). The alarming number was revealed by the Executive Director of the NLC, Dr Bernice A. Welbeck, at a stakeholders' symposium in Accra on Thursday.
Unfair Termination Cases Soar
The NLC report revealed that the majority of cases involved dismissals (336), unpaid salaries (660), and non-payment of compensation (15). Redundancy pay and lay-offs had 142 reported cases, while medical issues and leave entitlement accounted for 559 cases. The sheer scale of the problem raises serious concerns about the rights of workers in Ghana.
The NLC has been inundated with complaints, with an average of 800,000 to 1,000,000 reported cases per year. Dr Welbeck noted that these included labour disputes and industrial disputes, which often resulted in a series of industrial actions. The Commission has been able to handle 13,113 reported cases between April 2005 and December 2025, with 12,677 settled and concluded.
Labour Disputes and Industrial Actions on the Rise
The NLC's ability to handle cases has been hindered by a lack of response from some employers, with 119 cases remaining unprocessed. Justice Kwabena Asuman-Adu (Rtd), the Immediate Past Chairman of NLC, expressed concerns over the failure of government officials to appear before the Commission. This has led to unions accusing the chair of "being in bed" with the government.
Justice Asuman-Adu urged employers to be aware of the Labour Act, as many of them have limited knowledge about it. He encouraged employers to recruit qualified human resource practitioners to assist in making decisions that comply with the Act. The call for better compliance with labour laws is a pressing one, given the number of unfair termination cases.
Calls for Urgent Action
Labour unions have been calling for urgent action to address the situation. Mr Jones Ansah, Secretary-General of the Trades Union Congress, said that labour unions had not been taken seriously by governments over the years. He called for the government to well-resource the country's labour institutions to effectively deliver on their mandate.
The situation highlights the need for better labour laws and stronger institutions to protect workers' rights. The NLC's report is a wake-up call for the government and employers to take the issue of unfair termination seriously. It remains to be seen whether the government will take concrete steps to address the problem and ensure that workers are treated fairly.
In the meantime, workers in Ghana continue to face the risk of unfair termination, with devastating consequences for their livelihoods. The NLC's report serves as a reminder of the importance of protecting workers' rights and promoting fair labour practices. It is essential that the government and employers take immediate action to address the issue and prevent further cases of unfair termination.
Source: Joy Online
