Minister for Employment and Labour Relations, Mr. Ignatius Baffour Awuah, has introduced the Ghana Labour Market Information System (GLMIS) database to boost the Labour Department’s support for job seekers.
The system, available online at www.glmis.gov.gh, will act as a key interface for connecting job seekers with employers.
Speaking in Accra on Wednesday, Mr. Baffour Awuah highlighted that the database is a key element of the Ministry’s efforts under the third component of the World Bank-funded Ghana Jobs and Skills Project, which focuses on supporting skills development and job creation.
He stated, “The Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations is implementing component 3 of the project which is focused on improving the capacity of the Labour Department for enhanced coordination of the labour market.”
The Minister also noted that the platform will supply data on the skills in demand, identify gaps in training and development, and assist employers in making informed labor market decisions.
“The platform allows employers to declare existing job vacancies for jobseekers to upload their Curriculum Vitae (CVs) for job-matching,” he added.
Mr Baffour Awuah indicated that the GLMIS would reduce job mismatch, unemployment and under-employment as some teething problems in the labour market that the government has to tackle, adding that the platform would enhance the coordination of the labour market.
“Furthermore, as the system generates timely reports regarding the true state of the labour market, the government would be in a better position to make policy interventions for maximum impact on the labour market,” he noted.
The Minister emphasised that the project would help address the logistical and infrastructural challenges that have hindered the Labour Department from delivering efficient services.
Also, to further enhance labour administration, the Minister disclosed that the government is constructing a state-of-the-art four-story building for the Labour Department, which is now over 95 per cent complete.
“The project also includes the construction of 16 new Public Employment Centres (PECs) and the refurbishment of 48 existing ones across the country. Thirteen of the new PECs have already been completed in locations such as Yendi, Damongo, Wa and Bolgatanga, with ongoing work in Tarkwa, Atebubu and Amasaman.
“The government has procured over 80 motorbikes, 4 SUVs and 21 pick-up vehicles to improve labour administration. These investments will also strengthen the country’s Early Warning Systems, which are critical for detecting and averting industrial disputes, thus maintaining a stable labour environment,” he added.
Mr Baffour Awuah also highlighted the growing problem of fraudulent employment schemes.
He noted, “There is a rise in scams where criminals are posing as representatives of the Ministry, falsely claiming to be recruiting for various public and private sector jobs and demanding payments from unsuspecting applicants. This issue is becoming increasingly widespread.”
The Minister cautioned that the ministry is collaborating closely with security agencies to track down and prosecute those responsible for these scams.