Existing Labour Laws Are Adequate, Focus Should Be on Enforcement – Austin Gamey
June 12,2026
Labour analyst Austin Gamey has expressed reservations about plans to introduce a new Labour Act, arguing that Ghana's current labour legislation already contains the necessary provisions to address workplace challenges and evolving employment trends.
His comments follow an announcement by President John Dramani Mahama that the government is nearing completion of a new labour bill designed to provide greater protection for workers in emerging sectors such as remote work, digital platforms, and the gig economy.
According to the President, the proposed legislation seeks to modernise Ghana's labour framework in line with changing global work patterns while ensuring that workers benefit from fair contracts, legal safeguards, and improved social protections.
However, Mr. Gamey believes the priority should be the effective implementation of existing labour laws rather than replacing them with a new legal framework.
Speaking to Citi Business News on the sidelines of the 2026 Chartered Institute of Human Resource Management (CIHRM) Conference in Accra on Thursday, June 11, he argued that the current Labour Act already provides adequate guidance on labour relations and workplace governance.
“Everything that needs to be addressed regarding labour relations is already catered for in the existing law,” he stated.
While acknowledging the need for periodic reforms, Mr. Gamey maintained that many of the proposed changes could be introduced through Legislative Instruments (LIs) and regulations without the need for an entirely new Act.
According to him, much of the content in the proposed bill has been drawn from the existing Labour Act, with additional provisions from the Factories, Offices and Shops Act and other expanded areas that could have been addressed through subsidiary legislation.
“They have essentially taken provisions from the current Labour Act, incorporated aspects of the Factories, Offices and Shops Act, and expanded certain areas that could have been handled through regulations and Legislative Instruments rather than introducing a completely new bill,” he explained.
Mr. Gamey further cautioned that introducing a new law could create additional implementation difficulties, particularly when many employers, employees, and labour practitioners are still grappling with the interpretation and application of the current legislation.
“If we are struggling to fully implement and understand the existing law, introducing a new one may create even more challenges,” he warned.
His remarks contribute to the ongoing national conversation on whether Ghana's labour market requires a new legislative framework or stronger enforcement of the laws already in place.
The 2026 CIHRM Conference concluded with the launch of the 2027 Chartered Institute of Human Resource Management Ghana Conference, scheduled to take place from June 23 to June 24, 2027.
