Analysis of the role of port labour systems and reforms on the competitiveness of west African ports

Abstract

Purpose -The purpose of this paper is to critically discuss the role port labour systems can play in the competitiveness of ports in the West African sub region and the implications of the choice of system using Ghana as an example.
Design/Methodology/Approach -The study draws heavily on existing literature to find answers to the questions posed. Finding answers to the research questions related to identification of available port labour systems, transferability of practices from one port to the other and benchmarking on the success of the systems lays the foundation for the objectives of the study to be achieved. Based on reviewed literature, various concepts and systems employed by ports and the resultant strategies adopted by management and the labour force to stand for their interest are discussed.
Findings -This study reveals that ports undergo lifecycle, which in turn comes along with its orientation either towards a social or market system. This depends on several identified factors. Thus, in the present assessed situation in the sub region, any West African port including Ghana's ports and it's society at large will be the losers in the long run in the face of intensive competition to serve the vast Sahelian hinterlands if their reforms are social biased.
Practical Implications - This paper is aimed at preparing the ground for future research in this area. The issues pointed out have far reaching consequences for the success or failure of the reforms that are taking place in various ports in the West Africa sub region.
Originality/Value -Effort has been made to point out that seemingly peaceful reform could turn disastrous in the long run if the roadmap and conditions to achieving the objective of the port reform is not laid out and made transparent to stakeholders so that labour unions and investors can be proactive in knowing their role and aqjusting to the future desired status of the port.
Outline: - The study as a matter of order, presents as an introduction, the importance of port labour systems and the motivation for port reforms in determining the competitive position of ports. This is followed by the objectives and related questions on the subject matter. The review of literature defines important terms and subsequently presents the holistic framework under which the organisation of labour can be utilised to the advantage of ports. Finally, a discussion on the role port labour systems can play in the performance of a port, is presented using Ghana as a case study.

Keywords - Port Reforms, Port labour systems, Landlord port, Dock Labour Unions, Globalization, Privatization.