General-Secretary of the Union, Daniel Owusu-Koranteng,
The Maritime & Dockworkers’ Union (MDU) has implored its employers to develop plans against the possible spread of the Coronavirus pandemic to maritime companies.
The Union believes that the collective efforts of management and staff will go a long way to check the spread of the dreaded virus at the work environment.
Section 118 (1) of the Labour Act, 2003 (Act 65) stipulates: “it is the duty of an employer to ensure that every worker employed by him or her works under satisfactory, safe and healthy conditions.”
The Union believes this puts an obligation on management to create a safe workplace.
A statement signed by the General-Secretary of the Union, Daniel Owusu-Koranteng, therefore proposed that maritime employers “provide the right Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to protect workers who are at risk of the virus.”
It further stressed the need for “encouraging flexible worksites such as staggered work shifts, develop policy for remote work, provide infrastructure for teleworking, provide facilities for instant temperature of workers and visitors.”
It also proposed the appointment of a dedicated officer to ensure regular discussions of the response plans with workers to sustain awareness among them on the coronavirus pandemic as well as the review of the response plan.
“We wish to express our readiness to work with you to create a safe working environment in this difficult time of the spread of the coronavirus,” it indicated.
Contacts made
Meanwhile, the government has announced that it has so far traced 350 people who came into contact with the six Coronavirus patients in the country.
The Ministry of Health, on the website set aside to update Ghanaians on the virus, says it is following up on the contacts as part of efforts to stop the spread of the virus in the country.
“A total of seven cases have been confirmed so far with no local transmission. 350 contacts have been identified for these cases. Follow up for these contacts have commenced,” the Health Ministry has stated on the website.
SOURCE: Daily Statesman
