History
Migrant Workers are multi-disciplinary and doing multi-sectorial activities in labour migration. So United Nations has defined Migrant Workers and Members of their Families in its’ UN Convention 1990 as international instrument backing fair treatment, protection, human, labour rights and respect of Migrant Workers as Workers as well as Global Compact for Migration (GCM). Legal instruments governing Migrant Workers and right to join or form a labour organisation or trade union organisation also enshrined in ILO Convention 87, Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise; ILO 98, the Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining, 1949. The 1992 Constitution of Ghana Article 21 (e) guarantees Freedom of Association which includes freedom to form or join a labour organisation or trade union; Ghana Labour Act 2003 states “every worker has the right to join a trade union of his or her choice for promotion of the worker’s economic and social interest. The UN Domestic Workers Convention 190; and Labour (Domestic Workers’ Regulations) 2020 (L.I. 2408) Ghana among others guaranteed of Migrants.
MLGWUI is poised, seeking principally to develop internal and international Harmonious Industrial Relations Practices in Labour Migration Sector, Regional Integration and Reintegration Development with education and training in Ghana and diaspora and contribute immensely towards the achievement of 20230 Agenda Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 8,5,4,16,17 through justice, unity and perseverance efforts of all categories of Migrant Workers in building strategic partnerships with national and international centred organisations as a catalyst in achieving these goals.
CHALLENGES MIGRANT WORKERS ARE FACING IN GHANA, AFRICA SUB-REGION AND GLOBAL
The challenges Migrant Workers in Ghana, Africa, Sub-Region and globe are almost the same due to the following factors.
- Lack of Labour Rights Practices
- Lack of Social Protection and Social Justice
- Lack of Decent Work
- Lack of Received Contract of Employment in Country of Origin before Pre-Departure to Destination Country
- Lack of Equal Work for Equal Pay
- Lack of Collective Bargaining Agreement Negotiations
- Challenge in Acquiring Work Permit
- Discrimination at Labour Market
- Decent Shelter and Equal Rental Accommodation Rates
- Lack of Access to Public Health, Education and Social Amenities
- Gender and Racism Bias;
- Sickness and Lack of Medical Care Due to High Costs
- Challenge in Seeking Legal Aid
- No Response/Delay of Migrants Cases from Destination Embassies/Missions/Consulates
- Unethical Recruitment Practices
- Migrants Abuse, Exploitation and Detention and Refusal of Migrant Worker’s Return Home When wishes
- Cross Border Management Negative Views Against Migrants
- In-Direct Transfer of Migrant Worker to Destinations
- Language Barrier and Non-Interpretation of Contract of Employment Agreement
- Wage Theft Claim Negotiation and Settlement
It is based on the above challenges and UN recognition of Migrant Workers, the Founder, Trade Unionist, Industrial Relations Practitioner in Labour Migration and Regional Integration and Reintegration Development, Human Rights Advocate, Missionary Justice Baako NTARMAH of the MLGWUI-FFERC considered the importance and relevant formation of migrants’ labour organisation like existing sectorial trade union or labour organisations to enable him and Ms Jessica Ebene NTARMAH and MLGWUI-FFERC promoting Migrant Workers’ interest, protection, human and labour/working rights including legal aid in labour migration, employment relations, conditions of services of workers, right to wage theft claim, pre-departure, integration and regional reintegration development counsellings, access education, social community dialogue, peace and security mediation during and after working period and collectively have one voice for all categories of Migrants and Migrant Workers in Ghana, Africa and Diaspora and to have oversea migrant labour unions globally in order to address their labour migration matters in liaising with existing trade union organisations, migration organisations, immigration services, embassies/missions/consulates and government and its’ agencies collaborations.
MLGWUI as a humanitarian, industrial and social practitioner is not only for the Migrant Workers but a Immigrant or a Migrant as well as a Refugee who has social and employment related matters and needs defence during his or her living in the host/destination countries or communities.
YEAR OF FORMATION AND REGISTRATION
1.0: YEAR OF INCORPORATION
The Migrant Labour General Workers’ Union International (MLGWUI) which represents the interest of Migrant Workers/(Im)migrant Labour Workers and Potential Migrants was established in 2006 by the Founder, Trade Unionist, Industrial Relations Practitioner in Labour Migration and Regional Integration and Reintegration Development, Human Rights Advocate, Missionary Justice Baako NTARMAH with Miss Jessica Ebene NTARMAH and duly registered under Code, 1963 (Act 179) Ghana and officially incorporated as a Limited by Guarantee organisation on the 27th day of November, 2013 with Certificate of Incorporation of a Company Number CG076732013 and final Certificate to Commence Business on the 7th day of December, 2013. MLGWUI obtained Trade Union Certificate RTU/106 in 26th May, 2017 with Labour Department, Ghana under the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations.
NUMBER OF Members
Number of Membership currently stands at Thousands (1,000s) comprise Migrant Workers, Return Migrants (Returnees) Refugees, Expatriates (Foreigners) in different nationalities in both Africa and Diaspora. Due to short stay and transit of some members as well as Unnotified Returning Home Migrants as well as COVID-19 pandemic, membership becomes unestimated yet MLGWUI does daily registration, especially for Return Migrant (Returnees).
To become a larger migrant trade union organisation in African and Diaspora to provide information in labour market in resolving Migrants’ Grievances, Defending, Psychosocial Counselling Service and ensuring Justice on Decent Work Agenda for Migrant Workers and Migrant Entrepreneurs.
To organise, educate and integrate (all categories) general Migrant Workers, Migrant Entrepreneurs, Returned Migrant Workers, Workers in Migration Organisations, Workers in Migration Advocacy Organisations, Local and Overseas/Diaspora Members of Country Migrant Groups, Refugee Workers, Junior Staff of Country Missions, Migrant Students, Voluntary Migrant Workers and Migrant Pensioners-Retirees into recognised sustainable democratic migrant labour/trade union organisation in promoting Interest, Protection, Human, Labour Rights, Peace-Security, Safe, Fair and Orderly Labour Migration.
To Project efforts on Decent Work with SDGs Agenda by Promoting Regular Migration, Safe, Orderly Labour Migration in Reducing the Menace of Labour Human Trafficking, Migrant Workers Abuse and Exploitation, Child Trafficking and Child Labour.
The Categories of Workers or Beneficiaries are:
Internal and International Migrant Worker; Frontier Worker; Seasonal Worker; Seafarer; Worker on an Offshore Installation; Itinerant worker; Project-tied Worker; Specified-employment Worker; Self-employed Worker; Returned Migrant (Returnee) industries, enterprise levels and domestic work as well as others who might need defence in peace-security, human and good labour relations rights and practices.
Justice – Unity – Perseverance – Peace-Security – Harmonious Relationship – Partnership
“JUSTICE – UNITY – PERSERVERANCE”
“SOLIDARITY WITH MIGRANTS’ RIGHTS PERSERVERANCE”