GHANA – New Labour Market Rules for Oil and Gas Sector
Ghana’s Petroleum Commission has implemented stricter requirements for companies employing workers in the energy industry. Effective 1 September 2014, the new requirements include compulsory job adverts in specific newspapers, notifying the Petroleum Commission of any job vacancies and providing evidence of a transfer-of-skills plan.
Local Labour Market Search
An advertisement for the position to be filled should now be posted in at least two local newspapers including "The Daily Graphic" and "Ghanaian Times". Previously, employers were not bound by any rules concerning the placement of adverts. There is still no specified duration for such job adverts.
Any responses to job adverts should be kept by the employer as evidence of effort made to recruit a Ghanaian, and presented with the work permit application.
Notification of Vacancy
A vacancy now has to be notified to the Petroleum Commission by email as soon as an employer is aware that there will be a vacant position in the organisation.
Succession Plan
As part of the work permit application, an employer must now provide details of a succession plan designed to transfer skills to a Ghanaian national during the course of the assignment, along with full details of the Ghanaian employee(s) who will be understudying the applicant and replacing them after the assignment.
Action Points
- Oil and gas sector employers must notify the Petroleum Commission of any job vacancies;
- Advertise any jobs in this sector in the specified media outlets;
- Provide understudy and succession details with the work permit application.
