The Association of Oil Marketing Companies in the Republic of Ghana has asked striking petroleum tanker drivers to provide a list of their employers who are mistreating them by not paying them the appropriate remuneration.
According to the Association, verifying specific instances of unpaid drivers is crucial and, thus, encouraged the leadership of the Ghana National Petroleum Tanker Drivers Union (GNPTDU) to share any information regarding the drivers who do not receive proper remuneration for them to assist in addressing same.
Last Monday, petroleum tanker drivers under the aegis of the Ghana National Petroleum Tanker Drivers’ Union declared a nationwide strike action in protest of poor working conditions.
They accused the Board of NPA and the Association of Oil Marketing Companies (AOMC) of failing to approve the conditions of service framework for drivers and their mates.
Speaking to the Communications Manager for NPA, Mohammed Kudus, rejected the claim by the drivers that the NPA had refused to sign the framework.
He explained that payment of salaries to drivers and their mates is the sole responsibility of the employer and not the NPA, stating that the NPA CEO facilitated the composition of the committee that worked on the conditions of service framework out of the good heart he has for the drivers and their mates.
In a statement issued by the Chief Executive Officer of AOMC, Dr Riverson Oppong reminded the drivers that the responsibility for determining and paying employee remuneration lies with the employer being the respective tanker owners and not the National Petroleum Authority as the proposed framework seeks to do.
According to him, payment of salary is purely an employer/employee relationship guided by the labour laws of Ghana.
“The NPA’s role is primarily regulatory, focusing on ensuring compliance with industry standards and regulations. ”
“Compensation matters fall under the administrative purview of the employer the Petroleum Service Providers (PSPs).
“NPA does not have the legal nor administrative capacity to take up this role from the employers of these drivers as the proposed framework in its current form seeks to do,” Dr Riverson Oppong said.
He said the association recognises the importance of fair compensation for tanker drivers and their mates.
He added that the Association remains committed to finding a resolution that ensures the fair treatment of all stakeholders involved while maintaining the stability of the petroleum distribution network to ensure smooth operations of Ghana’s fuel supply chain.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com