It said industrial disputes affected productivity, profits and workers’ income and also threaten the sustainability of enterprises, job creation and investment attraction.

“It is imperative for us to remind ourselves that no organisation can thrive in an environment of antagonism, hostilities, mistrust and adversity” Alex Frimpong,  the GEA Chief Executive Officer said in the association’s May Day statement issued yesterday.

Workers in Ghana would on Sunday join their counterparts worldwide to celebrate International Workers’ Day often referred to as May Day­- set aside to recognise the selflessness of workers.

Organised Labour Groups would congregate at various grounds in all 16 regions to commemorate the day on the theme “Protecting jobs and income in the era of COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.”

There have been a number of labour agitations this year notably those involving the University Teachers Association and the Civil and Local Government Staff Association, Ghana, (CLOGSAG).

In order to ensure stability in the workplace, the statement said labour-management cooperation must be prioritised by opening the channels of communication at all levels of the organisation.

This, it said, would promote workplace cooperation and harmony, which are also the cardinal prerequisites for sustainable enterprises, wealth creation and increased national productivity as well as higher living standards.

The statement expressed the hope that the country would reflect deeply on the increasing spate of industrial disputes in Ghana, especially in the public sector as the May Day is marked.

The GEA said there was an urgent need for the government to collaborate with the business community to enhance the local production of imported goods.

It said identifying local firms that produce substitutes for the imported goods and giving them the needed support would also help to stabilise prices in the economy.

“We believe that this is one of the surest ways to assure continuous employment and sustainable incomes in the country”, it said.

The GEA statement said the COVID-19 pandemic and international trade challenges had resulted in serious global economic crisis, affecting Ghana’s business environment, economy and sustainability of enterprises.

“This is because Ghana depends largely on imports which include intermediate and final inputs used in the production of most of our goods and services.

The fallout from the global challenges over the last two years has greatly impacted the prices and supplies of these inputs with serious consequences for the operations of businesses, employers and employees in Ghana”, it said.

On behalf of all employers in Ghana, the GEA expressed its appreciation to all workers and the leadership of organised labour for their hard work and relentless efforts in driving the socio-economic development of Ghana.

 “GEA acknowledges the strides Ghanaian workers continue to make in our national efforts towards the post-pandemic economic recovery”, it said.