Contract mining: Here are government’s 3 new measures to protect mineworkers

The Ghanaian government has introduced three new measures to safeguard the wages, benefits and working conditions of mining workers as the country transitions from owner mining to contract mining. The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources outlined the safeguards, stating that they aim to guide the effective implementation of the country's contract mining policy while protecting workers' rights and welfare.

The measures include preventing any reduction in wages, emoluments, entitlements, benefits or working conditions for workers affected by the transition, harmonising salaries and conditions of service across the mining industry value chain, and categorising eligible mining contractors by their capacity to provide mining-related services.

These additional safeguards are designed to address concerns raised by stakeholders, including the Ghana Mineworkers Union and human resource experts, regarding potential impacts on workers' remuneration and welfare during the transition. The government emphasized its commitment to fairness, transparency, and genuine Ghanaian participation in the mining industry, reaffirming its stance against unfair labour practices and zero tolerance for any conduct that undermines local content objectives or harms workers.