The Trades Union Congress (TUC) of Ghana has intensified calls for the government to expedite the passage of the Occupational Safety, Health and Environment (OSHE) Bill to provide stronger protection for workers, especially as emerging technologies transform the world of work. In a statement signed by its Secretary-General, Joshua Ansah, the TUC emphasized that significant investments in OSHE systems are urgently needed — not only in Ghana but across Africa — to reduce preventable deaths and injuries in the workplace.
The TUC’s appeal comes against the backdrop of the rapid integration of artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, and the Internet of Things (IoT) into industries, which, while boosting productivity, also introduce new risks to worker health and safety. Speaking ahead of the 2025 World Day for Safety and Health at Work, commemorated annually on April 28, the union stressed that without strong regulatory frameworks like the OSHE Bill, Ghanaian workers could be exposed to greater physical, mental, and economic vulnerabilities.
“Emerging technologies offer opportunities to eliminate hazardous tasks and monitor worker health in real time, but they also pose fresh challenges such as increased sedentary behavior, mental stress from constant adaptation, and the looming threat of job insecurity due to automation,” the TUC stated.
The union outlined key action points, urging policymakers, employers, and technology developers to conduct risk assessments, invest in continuous worker upskilling, enforce robust safety protocols, and foster a culture of worker well-being. Without these interventions, the TUC warned, the Fourth Industrial Revolution could widen inequality gaps and undermine economic resilience.
From a business and economic standpoint, experts note that strengthening occupational health and safety standards could enhance Ghana’s labour productivity, attract more responsible foreign investment, and align the country’s industries with global best practices, particularly in sectors such as manufacturing, logistics, and services where technology is advancing fastest.
The TUC’s latest call adds pressure on policymakers as businesses and investors await the passage of the OSHE Bill, which many see as crucial to building a modern, competitive, and humane work environment in Ghana’s evolving economy.
