Labour Casualisation and Employment Precariousness in Ghana’s Oil Palm Processing Sector

Globally, employment is shifting from traditional full-time jobs to casual and contract arrangements, primarily due to market pressures and deregulation. In Ghana, market-led agricultural development and privatisation have exacerbated surplus labour and casual employment challenges, particularly in the oil palm sector. Qualitative data from interviews and focus groups reveal how neoliberal policies in agro-processing firms have resulted in an increase in temporary and precarious jobs, leading to difficult conditions for workers. The paper demonstrates how structural and historical forces shape labour relations in the Global South, arguing that labour casualisation is not merely a temporary occurrence or a managerial choice, but a systemic aspect of capitalist development characterised by dependency and neocolonial value extraction. This is concerning, given the role of decent work in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. The paper highlights the need to balance labour flexibility and security to ensure employment stability in a changing work environment.