TUC calls for immediate implementation of local content policy over Tullow lay-offs

The General Transport, Petroleum and Chemical Workers Union of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) has called for the swift implementation of the local content policy to protect workers of multinationals from layoffs.

The union believes this will provide job security in event of any operational challenge.

This comes after reports indicated that the oil giant, Tullow, had decided to reduce its workforce by 25 per cent over Tullow Oil Plc’s financial troubles.

The East African reports that Tullow’s financial struggles are attributed to a sharp drop in revenue from its Ghana operation, delays in operationalisation and sale of its stake in East Africa and reports of poor quality of its Guyana oil discovery.

Deputy General Secretary of the TUC, Francis Sallah, said the time has come for the right institutions to implement the policy to protect the Ghanaian worker.

“It is the adequate implementation of the government’s policies that are lacking. I don’t think if we have the calibre of people or Ghanaians, who are already mature in industries taking charge of the key operations in the oil and gas industry, no multinational company will do something outside this country and the negative effects will be pushed unto us Ghanaians.”

“So in reality, it is the implementation of our policy that is the problem. We have fine laws but how do we let them work? These companies will not be able to do all these if we had the right people in charge of certain operations in this country. So, we need to take a second look at our local content policy to ensure that it works,” he said.

Citi FM reports that the ongoing global redundancy process will lead to the departure of 35 per cent of Tullow Ghana’s senior leadership as well as overall 25 per cent job losses for staff made up of both Ghanaians and expatriates.

The redundancy programme will be done in three batches with the first group of workers set to exit the company by March, followed by the second batch in June, and the last in December 2020.