Mr Joseph Ankamah, Brong Ahafo Regional Secretary of the Trades Union Congress (TUC), has called on workers in the country to prepare themselves by developing the requisite skills for entering into the new job market, following the emergence of new companies in Ghana.
In order that they are not found wanting, Trade Unions must also adopt strategies that would assist their members in that regard, he said.
A press release issued in Accra on Wednesday by the Construction and Building Materials Workers' Union (CBMWU) of the TUC, said Mr Ankamah was speaking at the opening of a seminar organized by the Union at Sunyani last weekend.
Mr Ankamah said the Seminar on "Occupational Hazards and Safety" was necessary for the forward movement of the unionists, saying that he was happy that the workers themselves were yearning for such educational programmes which should be held on regular basis.
Mr Pius Kweku Quainoo, General Secretary of CBMWU, said workers should consider occupational hazards and safety as very crucial, adding that "not less than one-third of all fatal accidents in the world of work occurs in the construction industries, and those are only the detected and reported ones."
In this regard, he appealed to state officials to go beyond just inspection of projects and to ascertain the welfare of workers, their "poverty wages", denial of the right to form trade unions and refusal of adequate rest period.
Mr Quainoo also expressed concern about the weak enforcement of labour legislation as far as collective agreements and practices were concerned.
Later in an election, Mr George N. Adjei of the Ghana Highways Authority was elected CMBWU union council chairman, whiles Mr Nashiru Adams and Madam Janet Asare were elected first and second vice chairpersons respectively.
Miss Ruth Boatema was elected Secretary with Messrs John Mansford Asamoah and Evans Osei Bediako as first and second trustees respectively.
Those elected as executive members were Mr Bresi Anoh, Mallo Mathundar and Addo Tetteh.