Concerns about the hiring of nurses for the United Kingdom by unlicensed Private Employment Agencies (PEAs) have been expressed by the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations.
The Ministry committed to deal with anyone found responsible in a statement condemning the outrageous amounts levied by the agencies as processing fees.
The Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations (MELR) has learned that some unlicensed Private Employment Agencies (PEAs) and individuals are hiring Ghanaian workers to work as nurses and caregivers in the United Kingdom and other foreign countries without first going through the proper state institutions.
These dishonest organizations and people charge unwary job seekers outrageous amounts for processing paperwork even though they lack the required permits to do business in Ghana.
The Ministry would like to make the general public aware that operating a private employment agency without a license from the Minister in charge of Labor is prohibited by Section 7 (1) of the Labour Act, 2003 (Act 651).
To prevent being taken advantage of by charlatans, we advise everyone looking for work possibilities abroad to exercise caution and confirm the credentials of any agency they interact with.
In order to make their jobs easier, it is also recommended that all licensed PEAs working in Ghana abide with the Labor Act, 2003 (Act 651) and Labour Regulations, 2007 (LI 1833) regulations.
Any PEA found guilty will be subject to the full force of the law. The MELR categorically denounces the exploitative actions of any PEA or people who wish to damage Ghana’s reputation.
We urge anyone with knowledge of unlicensed PEAS’s actions to contact the MELR, the relevant law enforcement agencies, or phone the toll-free number on all networks at 0800600400.
