Bitter-sweet Workers Day celebrations in West Africa
Celebrations of the 2012 annual May Day or International Workers Day took place on Tuesday in countries across the sub-region, against the backdrop of a new report by the International Labour Organization (ILO) of a huge increase in joblessness amid the global economic crisis.
With the number of jobless people skyrocketing around the World, the ILO this week warned that austerity measures are hurting job markets, predicting bigger unemployment rate this year.
West Africa Democracy Radio (WADR) presents a series of reports from several countries in the sub-region reflecting celebrations of May Day and the plight of workers.
In Nigeria, thousands of workers brave the growing insecurity to celebrate May Day, as President Goodluck Jonathan promises protection.
Workers in Ghana assured that the government would not fail its commitment to improve the economy.
In Liberia, labour unions boycotted official May Day ceremony, claiming their members are being wrongfully sacked, but the government appears apologetic.
Benin’s unions have stepped up the pressure on President Boni Yayi’s government, while boycotting the official May Day ceremony.
The ILO said the global unemployment will peak 2002 million people in 2012, representing an increase of six million from last year.
According to the ILO's World of Work Report for 2012, fiscal austerity and labour market reforms had had "devastating consequences" for employment.
It noted that this is mostly failing to cut deficits, warning that governments around the world risked fueling unrest, unless they combined tighter spending with job creation.
Nigeria: Tight security amidst May Day event
Workers celebrated May Day on Tuesday, amidst very tight security in the wake of a spate of bombing and shootings by the Boko Haram militant group in the past few days.
The May Day celebration was special, as the Nigerian Labour Movement marked its one hundredth anniversary.
Workers trooped out in large numbers as early as 7 am to Eagle Square, venue of the national ceremony in the capital, Abuja.
As WADR’s Correspondent Martins Martins reports from Abuja, the thousands of workers were subjected to thorough search by the bomb and Anti-terrorist Unit of the Nigerian Police, with a promise of protection from the Nigerian head of state.
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Ghana Pres Mills pledges support for workers
President John Atta Mills has pledged his government’s strong support for workers in the country.
The Ghanaian leader’s pledge was made at a ceremony marking May Day or international workers day yesterday, Tuesday.
President Mill promised that his government would not renege on its commitment to improve the country’s economy by putting more Ghanaians to work through job creation.
WADR’s Accra correspondent Kofi Agyepong reports.
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Liberia trade union boycott official ceremony complain of sackings
The situation in Liberia was a complete opposite to the one in Ghana, as Liberian trade Unions on Tuesday boycotted the official celebrations marking May Day.
Workers in Liberia were protesting what they say were the wrongful dismissals of several of their members in state agencies.
They made specific reference to recent sackings at the National sea Port Authority and the National Transit Authority.
David Siakor, Secretary General of the United Labor Unions of Liberia has been telling our Monrovia Correspondent William Selmah, why the unions decided to boycott the official programs for May Day.
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Liberian govt. gives apologetic response
Meanwhile, the Liberian Government has responded to the labour unions’ claims, assuring the workers that all complaints of wrongful dismissals will be looked into.
Labour Minister Varbah Gayflor promised to make sure that labor laws are not violated.
The Liberian Labour Minister was responding to concerns raised by aggrieved trade unionists in her Labor Day message on Tuesday in the capital, Monrovia.
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Benin workers boycott event with more pressure on Pres Yayi
Benin’s labor unions are maintaining their pressure on the government of President Boni Yayi, claiming that it was doing nothing to create a conduscive environment for dialogue to promote industrial harmony.
But officials said the government would give its reaction to the workers claims.
In fact, Benin’s trade unions yesterday boycotted the official May Day ceremony on grounds that the government not willing to address workers’ grievances.
Paul Esseh Iko is Secretary General of the coalition of labor unions.
This is what he told our Cotonou Correspondent Euloge Aidasso.
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