Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2014, published 104th ILC session (2015)

Weekly Rest (Commerce and Offices) Convention, 1957 (No. 106) - Ghana (Ratification: 1958)

The Committee notes that the Government’s report merely reproduces the same information contained in its last report of 2008. It is therefore bound to repeat its previous request which concerned the following points.

Articles 7 and 8 of the Convention. Permanent and temporary exemptions. The Committee notes that the Labour Act, 2003, does not appear to authorize, or otherwise regulate, work during the weekly rest period neither by reason of standard needs (special weekly rest schemes) nor on grounds of unforeseen circumstances (temporary exemptions). Given the fact that there is a real need to keep certain establishments in operation on the day of rest, which may be inherent (for example in the case of hospitals, hotels, newspapers, continuous processes, transport, etc.) or exceptional (for example in the case of major accidents, force majeure or urgent work to equipment), the Committee requests the Government to indicate the measures taken or envisaged in order to give full effect to these Articles of the Convention, including the obligation to grant compensatory rest of a total duration of at least 24 hours to those performing work on a weekly rest day.

Article 10(2). Sanctions. The Committee observes that the Labour Act does not appear to provide for specific penalties for failure to apply its provisions on weekly rest. The Committee therefore requests the Government to specify the legal provisions, and transmit a copy of any relevant text, establishing penalties to ensure the enforcement of the standards concerning weekly rest.