The Ghana Employers’ Association (GEA) is seeking closer engagement between businesses and labor regulatory institutions to help employers better understand workplace rules and avoid costly compliance failures.
The GEA Chief Executive Officer, Alex Frimpong, maintains that regular dialogue was needed to close gaps in understanding between employers and regulators, particularly in areas such as occupational safety and health, pensions, social security and labor relations.
He made the call at the maiden dialogue between employers and labour regulators, organised by the GEA in collaboration with the Confederation of Norwegian Enterprise (NHO).
The meeting brought together representatives of the National Labour Commission, Labour Productivity Institute (LPI), Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT), Factories Inspectorate and Labour Department.
Bridging the compliance gap
Mr Frimpong said employers and regulators had faced a range of challenges and concerns over the past decade, making it important for both sides to develop a common understanding of labour-market rules and expectations.
He said regulation was necessary to maintain standards, but employers needed to understand not only what the law required but also the consequences of failing to comply.
“How conversant are we with them?” he asked, referring to the various labour laws and regulations governing workplaces.
He said a lack of knowledge could expose businesses to regulatory consequences as well as reputational damage and strained relationships with employees and regulators.
The dialogue, he said, provided an opportunity for employers to engage directly with regulatory institutions and gain practical clarity on their obligations.
Safety is more than avoiding accidents
Mr Frimpong also urged businesses to take a broader view of occupational safety and health.
He said workplace safety was often associated with accidents and physical hazards, but everyday working conditions could also create long-term health problems.
He cited poor sitting posture and inadequate ergonomic practices in offices as examples of risks that could be overlooked.
“Most of us in offices, your sitting posture, your understanding of ergonomic practices can create long-term physical problems for you,” he said.
He encouraged employers and workers to pay greater attention to the rules and safeguards governing workplace health and safety.
Building stronger networks
Beyond regulatory compliance, Mr Frimpong encouraged participants to use the dialogue to build relationships across the labour market.
He said bringing representatives from different regulatory institutions and businesses together provided an opportunity to establish professional networks that could support collaboration beyond the meeting.
He urged participants to be deliberate about building those connections, noting that professional relationships could create opportunities for knowledge sharing and career development.
“You never know whether your next employee is sitting to your left or right,” he said.
A shared understanding
Mr Frimpong said stronger engagement between employers and regulators would help create a more informed labour market in which businesses understood their obligations and regulators had a better appreciation of the realities facing enterprises.
He encouraged participants to treat the dialogue as an ongoing learning opportunity and to use direct engagement with regulators to clarify emerging requirements.
The maiden dialogue is intended to strengthen engagement between employers and key labour regulatory institutions while providing practical insights into occupational safety and health obligations, workplace risks and emerging compliance requirements.
