The Kotoka International Airport (KIA) recently became the talk of town after the completion of its new terminal, Terminal 3.
All international travels were moved to this newly opened terminal and became job-seekers’ favourite.
As one would perceive that working at such an ultra-modern facility comes with attractive salaries, that isn’t the case at KIA.
An airport employee who wishes to remain anonymous revealed to AmeyawDebrah.com that workers are paid as low as GHS400 to 800 (USD 80 – 120) monthly. This according to the worker is responsible for the many reports of extortion by passengers.
The worker attributed the situation to the fact that companies working at the airport hire them on contract basis that limits their commitments to employees including the payment of overtime.
The worker called on the Ghana Airports Company Limited to set standards for employers at the facility.
Read the full message from the worker unedited:
The problem I have at the airport is that workers are paid as low as Ghc400-600, which is very bad. We have cried a lot to management but nothing has been done about it.
The Ghana Airport Company should set a standard payment for every company that comes to the airport, to pay workers. If we get better pay, I think extortion at the airport would reduce tremendously.
Even the uniforms we wear are deducted from our salaries. This is the reason why some passengers complain of workers extorting monies from them when traveling.
Companies have employed people on contract basis for more than a year, why because if they make them permanent workers, they need to pay them over time so they employ us based on contracts.
People are suffering especially those who have families. Out of fear, the workers have not been able to form unions that help to protect the interest of workers.
If the Ghana Airport Company sets standards for every company to work with, things will be ok. We have no rights …that are the kind of fear they have put into us, so much that even our supervisors can’t talk for us.
What hurts the most is there are no benefits from the company to workers when you are sick; or overtime payment for us after we have worked more than our usual working hours. I would love for u to just get closer to some of the airline security and hear for your self.
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