The Union of Informal Workers Associations (UNIWA), in its commitment to defending, promoting, and protecting the rights of informal economy workers in Ghana, has conducted a training workshop on labor rights for its affiliated members.

The event, held in early January, was part of an initiative supported by AVINA Américas, an organization that provided a grant to UNIWA to improve data collection on its members and strengthen its organizational efforts.

The workshop brought together 132 participants, of whom 130 were women and only 2 were men, reflecting the strong female presence in Ghana's informal sector. Throughout the session, key aspects of labor rights were addressed, and strategies were discussed to improve the working conditions of the participants.
 

The event aimed to train UNIWA members on their rights as informal economy workers; explain the legal provisions contained in the Constitution of Ghana and other legislative instruments regarding labor rights and responsibilities; and gather key challenges faced by informal workers to formulate recommendations for submission to local authorities, particularly in the context of Ghana's new government.
 

Participants were educated on the Constitution of Ghana and the 2003 Labor Act (Act 651), including their right to form or join a union of their choice.
 

Several issues requiring attention from local authorities were identified, such as the need for market infrastructure, financial support for small and medium-sized enterprises (including the new government's proposed 'Women's Bank'), childcare centers for working mothers, warehouses to ensure the safe storage of food products, and training in financial management and decent work.
The benefits of being part of UNIWA were presented, and information was provided about the organization’s database project, as well as upcoming activities related to this initiative.
 

This workshop represents a significant step in UNIWA’s efforts to improve working conditions in the informal economy and ensure that the rights of its members are respected and promoted. The organization will continue working closely with local authorities to implement the proposed solutions and secure a fairer and more equitable working environment for all informal workers in Ghana.