Labour Minister Champions Tripartism and Social Dialogue to Drive New Workplace Safety System
The Government, through the Ministry of Labour, Jobs and Employment is set to introduce the National Workplace Compliance and Safety Management System (NWCSMS), a major initiative aimed at modernising Ghana’s workplace inspection, compliance and occupational safety regime through tripartism, social dialogue and institutional collaboration.
The new system will transform labour administration from a largely manual, paper-based process into an integrated, data-driven and risk-based digital platform. It will enable the Department of Factories Inspectorate (DFI) to identify high-risk workplaces more effectively, strengthen compliance monitoring and support proactive measures to prevent workplace accidents, injuries and occupational diseases.
Speaking at the event, the Minister for Labour, Jobs and Employment, Hon. Dr. Abdul-Rashid Hassan Pelpuo, said the successful implementation of the new workplace safety system must be driven by tripartism and meaningful social dialogue among government, employers and workers.
He stressed that Ghana’s ambition to create sustainable and decent jobs must go hand in hand with strong measures to protect workers, noting that workplace safety is not solely the responsibility of government or inspectors, but a shared responsibility requiring the active participation of all social partners.
According to the Minister, effective collaboration among government, organised labour and employers would help build a workplace safety culture based on prevention, accountability and continuous improvement. He said the NWCSMS therefore presented an opportunity to bring stakeholders together to develop practical and sustainable solutions to workplace safety challenges.
He noted that a productive economy could not be built on unsafe workplaces, emphasising that workers must be provided with safe, healthy and dignified working environments in which they can contribute effectively to national development.
Representing the Head of the Civil Service, the Chief Director of the Office of the Head of the Civil Service, Mr. Sylvanus Adzornu, said the initiative reflected government’s broader commitment to institutional reform, digital transformation and improved public service delivery.
He called for a review of the DFI’s Organisational Manual to align its operations with contemporary workplace safety standards and practices, particularly given that its existing legislative framework dates back several decades, stressing that the system should deliver mutual benefits for both government and the private sector.
The Chief Director of the Ministry, Mr. Hamidu Adakurugu, described the NWCSMS as more than an ICT project, noting that its success would depend on complementary reforms in institutional capacity, human resources, organisational structures and change management.
He emphasised that the initiative requires the collective ownership and active participation of government, employers and workers, with tripartism and social dialogue serving as the foundation for its successful implementation.
The NWCSMS is expected to strengthen collaboration among the social partners while creating a more responsive, efficient and effective system for workplace compliance and occupational safety.
When fully implemented, the system will help foster a stronger culture of prevention and accountability, ensuring that workers across Ghana can operate in workplaces that are safe, healthy, productive and respectful of their dignity and rights.
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