Shea workers in Ghana have signed a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) aimed at strengthening labour relations, improving working conditions and boosting productivity within the shea value chain.

The agreement, signed at the end of a three-day meeting, held in Tamale, formed part of efforts to organise shea workers across the country and establish clear standards to protect both workers and employers in the sector.

The event was organised by the General Agricultural Workers Union (GAWU) of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) in collaboration with the Ghana Employers Association (GEA) and supported by the International Labour Organization (ILO) under the Productivity Ecosystems for Decent Work Programme with funding support from the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) and the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD).
It brought together key stakeholders, including representatives from labour unions, employers, development partners and civil society organisations to review and finalise the agreement for the shea industry.

Mr Wumbei Abdulai, Northern and Upper East Regional Industrial Relations Officer of GAWU, speaking during the event, said the initiative formed part of efforts to organise workers in the shea sector, which was largely dominated by women.
He said organising workers into unions and establishing a collective bargaining agreement would ensure that their rights were protected while also strengthening standards within the industry.

He said the agreement would therefore serve as a protective framework for both employers and employees while also helping to improve the overall performance of the shea sector.

He said the processes leading to the signing of the agreement were supported by several partners, including the ILO, TUC GEA and stakeholders within the shea value chain.

Hajia Rabiatu Abdul-Karim, the President of the Ghana Shea Employers Association, expressed gratitude to the ILO for supporting the sector and strengthening collaboration among actors in the shea value chain.

She said previously, many players in the industry operated independently, but the new framework had brought them together to work collectively to improve the sector.
Hajia Abdul-Karim noted that the collective bargaining agreement would also enhance the credibility of shea producers seeking international certifications such as organic and fair-trade standards.

She, however, appealed to the government to provide more financial and policy support to the shea industry to enable it to expand operations.
Ms Charlotte Esenam Afudego of SECO, a development partner of the ILO, said the programme aimed to promote decent work and productivity while strengthening private sector development.

She said the private sector played a critical role in driving economic growth, creating jobs and improving working conditions.
She said the collective bargaining agreement would create a mutually beneficial framework where employers followed responsible business practices while workers enjoyed improved working conditions.