The Ghana Mineworkers’ Union (GMWU) of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) has urged the Minerals Commission to suspend its directive requiring major mining companies, including Zijin Mining, Newmont Corporation, and AngloGold Ashanti, to transition to contract mining by December 2026.
In a letter signed by General Secretary Abdul-Moomin Gbana, the Union warned that the policy could fragment production systems, increase job insecurity, and reduce working conditions for mineworkers.
The Union expressed concern that workers under contract arrangements often earn significantly lower wages—sometimes 50% less—than those employed directly by mine owners. They also highlighted potential reductions in pensions and other long-term benefits, which could affect workers’ financial security.
“The attempt to impose a blanket transition to contract mining raises serious questions about who truly benefits,” the Union stated. “Local contractors positioned to gain from this directive have, in many cases, failed in their legal and moral obligations to workers and the Republic of Ghana.”
Citing examples of non-compliance by local contractors, including Engineers and Planners, BCM Ghana Limited, and Rocksure International, the Union emphasized that multinational firms generally adhere to legal obligations and provide better working conditions.
The GMWU criticized the unilateral nature of policymaking by the Minerals Commission and the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, noting that mineworkers are often excluded from decisions that directly affect their livelihoods.
The Union has called for a more inclusive stakeholder consultation process and warned that any attempt to implement the directive without changes would face “strong, coordinated and sustained resistance” from its members across the mining sector.
