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Services
There are a number of services we render to our customers and the main customers to BOLSA are;
- Employees;
- Employers;
- Trade unions & employers associations;
- Marginalized groups of the community;
- Orphans and vulnerable children (OVC);
- Disable people & elders etc.
The type of service package available in our organization can be described along with its operational departments as follows;
a) The labour department: The department has the responsibility to safeguard the wellbeing of industrial workers, ensure and maintain the industrial peace at workplaces by effective implementation of the countries labour law. this is done in its broader context by;
- Promoting & implementing occupational health and safety concepts at workplaces.
- Conducting regular work place inspections on work conditions and taking a corrective action.
- Providing trainings and awareness raising programs.
- Resolving and settling the conflicts and disputes, which arise out of the relations between employer & the employees.
- Providing of technical support for trade unions to be able to organize, register and develop their power to bargain with the employer.
- Disseminating of manpower and employment information.
b) The social department: The department has the responsibility of preventing and alleviating the social problems embarked upon the community and creates ways of improving the living standards through rehabilitation programs. This done mainly by;
- Studying and identifying the root causes of the problems;
- Designing mitigative rehabilitation and care & support programs;
- Raising the awareness level of the community with regard to the abolishment of harmful traditional practices (HTP);
- Promoting of child rights convention;
- Integrating, controlling and coordinating the efforts of NGO's working in the area.
Service Centers
There are two social centers that engaged on disability problems, three labour relation boards that are administered under the bureau other than the 10 branch offices. But the three zonal branch offices Oromo Nationality, Awi Nationality and the Bahirdar Municipality since they are autonomously established as self governing regional body, they obtain their financial budget from their respective government councils. Their relationship with the bureau is limited on the technical aspects only.
Gonder Disabled Training Center (GDTC) was established in 1971 and it was under different organizations with different names. The aim of its establishment was to support about 70-80 persons with disabilities, orphans and old age societies. From 1982-1991 the center provided weaving, sewing and woodwork training programs with food, shelter and medical services. After 1997 the center was decided to be under the regional bureau of labour and social affairs. Now GDTC is the only governmental organization in Amhara region with its progressive objectives by minimizing the problem of the disabled and societies who are found under different life conditions. In general, the vision of the center is to see those societies under difficult conditions like persons with disabilities, prostitutes, street children and jobless youths who trained in different vocations and self-sufficient. And its mission also, based on the federal and regional polices and rules by integrating the support of other concerned bodies, making these mentioned societies who are self supportive and their nation as well by providing different vocational trainings.
Dessie orthopedic and physiotherapy center is a government Non-profit service giving organization with a specific mission in achieving of physical rehabilitation for disabled people. The center has more than 15 years of experiences in the field of physical rehabilitation.
In the amhara Region two (2) permanent and one (1) adhoc, totally three (3) Labour Relation Boards are established. These Boards are named as follows:
- The west Amhara Permanent Labour Relation Board (established in Bahir Dar town) since 1995.
- The west Amhara adhoc Labour Relation Board (established in Bahir Dar town) since 2005
- The East Amhara Permanent Labour Relation Board (established in Dessie town) since 2002.
Composition
Each Board consists of totally 9 members. The two are alternate members represented from the workers side and the other from the employer's side. The other seven are as follows:
- A chair person;
- Two qualified members who have the knowledge and skill on Labour relation, appointed by the minister;
- Four members of whom two represent the trade unions and two represent employer’s associations.
Area Coverage
- The West Amhara permanent Board serves North and South Gondar, West and East Gojjam, and Awi zone;
- The East Amhara permanent Board serves North and South Wollo, North Showa, Waghimera and Oromia zone.
Power of the Boards
1. The permanent Board, based on of the labour proclamation No 377/2003, has the following powers:
- To hear Labour disputes on matters specified in sub article (1) of Article 142, except for (a), to conciliate the parties and to give orders and decisions.
- Except for sub-article 1 (a) of article 142 to hear cases submitted to it by one of the disputing parties after the parties fail to reach agreement in accordance with sub-article (3) of article 142.
- To hear cases on prohibited actions referred to in Article 160.
- To require any person or organization to submit information and documents required by the Board for the carrying out of its duties;
- To require parties and witness to appear and testify at hearings;
- To administer oaths or take affirmations of persons appearing before the Board and examine any such persons upon such oath or affirmation;
- To enter the premises of any working place or undertaking during working hours in order to obtain relevant information, hear witnesses or require the submission of documents or other articles for inspection from any person in the premises.
2. The adhoc Board hears Labour disputes on matters specified in sub-article 1(a) of Article 142, to conciliate the parties and to give any orders and decisions,
3. Except in cases of emergency the person in charge of the premise or the undertaking shall be given reasonable advance notice before any entry in accordance with sub-article 1(g) of this article.
4. Orders and decisions of the Board shall be considered as those decided by civil courts of law.
Rules of procedures and hearing of cases
- Both the permanent and the adhoc Boards issue their own rules of evidence and procedure.
- Before giving decisions, the Boards shall notify the parties involved and afford them on opportunity to be heard. At least three days advance notice of hearing shall be given to the parties and the notice shall contain in the date, hour and place of hearing.
- If any of the parties or any other person properly summoned to appear at a hearing fails to appear at the fixed time and place, the Board may proceed with the hearing. If failure to appear was not the fault of the person involved the Board shall grant that person a second opportunity to appear before it.
- No appeal may be taken on the Board's decision given in accordance with sub-article (2) of this article.
- All hearings of the Board shall public unless the chairman for good cause decides otherwise.
- The Boards shall not be bound by the rules of evidence and procedure applicable to courts of law, but may inform itself in such manner at it thinks fit.
- Trade unions, employers associations and other parties notified to appear at the hearing may be represented by their duly authorized representatives or appointed legal council. The Board may limit the number such representatives who may actively participate in a hearing on behalf of any single party.
Consideration of matters
- The Boards shall Endeavour to settle by agreement Labour disputes submitted to it, and to this and it shall employ and make use of all such means of conciliation, as it deems to appropriate.
- The Boards may in appropriate circumstances consider not only the interest of the parties immediately concerned but also the interest of the community of which they are apart and may in such circumstances grant a motion to intervene by the government as amicus curiae.
- In reaching any decision, the Board shall take into account the substantial merits of the case, and need not follow strictly the principles of substantive law followed by civil courts. Decisions
- The Boards shall give decision within 30 days from the date on which the claim is lodged.
- Decisions of the Boards shall be made in writing and signed by the Board members who concur therein. Dissenting opinions shall also be made in writing and signed by the members in dissent.
- In every decision of the Board the judgment shall contain the following:
- The issue or controversy submitted for decision;
- The substance and source of relevant testimony and evidence received in the course of the proceedings;
- The findings of the fact made and the evaluation of the evidence which leads the Board to make such findings;
- The decision of each issue or controversy;
- The action to be taken on the basis of such decision.
- A copy of the decision of the Board shall be served upon the parties involved within 5 days from the date of decision.
Zonal Offices
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