Nana Obiri Boahen, Minister of State at the Ministry of Interior, on Thursday called on private security organisations and their employees to exhibit a sense of loyalty, transparency and faithfulness in employment relationships to avoid legal disputes.
"Both parties must be loyal and faithful to one another, as lack of loyalty generates legal disputes where one of the parties uses legal means to terminate the relationship," he said.
Nana Obiri Boahen was speaking at the signing of a Collective Bargaining Agreement between the Association of Private Security Organizations Ghana (APSOG) and Union of Private Security Employees Ghana (UPSEG).
The agreement is a legally binding contract that embodies the terms and conditions of employment of the workers, including specific wages, benefits, lay-off policies, grievance procedures as well as the respective rights and duties of workers and management.
Nana Obiri Boahen said it was the responsibility of employers to be sincere to employees adding that, workers must also perform their duties diligently.
He said the Ministry had set up a committee, which would soon come out with recommendations on the operations of private security organisations.
"The Ministry is not happy with the performance of some private security organisations," he said.
"Some of the companies have refused to pay the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) contributions of their workers and honour their tax obligations. The recommendations of the committee would be addressing some of these challenges and promote good working relationships."
Nana Obiri Boahen urged employees of private security organizations to abide by the rule of law and collaborate with the police in fighting crime in society.
"It is your responsibility to work hand-in-hand with the police and provide the necessary information that would enable them to combat crime. Do not take the law into your own hands but hand over all suspects to the police when you apprehend them."
Nana Obiri Boahen expressed the hope that a fruitful working relationship between employers and employees would propel the country into a middle-income status in future.
Mr. Mohammed Affum, Public Relations Officer of National Labour Commission (NLC), said the process of negotiating terms and conditions of employment between workers and employers represented an important part of industrial relations, which gave voice to workers.
Nana Adu Agyeman IV, Chairman of Association of Private Security Organizations Ghana (APSOG), urged employees to render their services to employers peacefully and in humility.
Nana Kofi Adu II, General Secretary of Union of Private Security Employees Ghana (UPSEG), said provisions in the agreement which covered end of service benefits, payment for extra duty hours and unwarranted dismissals should motivate employees to give of their best at their workplaces.