Labour Regulations, Job Productivity and Job Satisfaction in the Pre-Tertiary Education Sector of Ghana: A Study of Selected Disticts in the Central Region

This study investigates the interrelationships among labor regulations, job
satisfaction, and job productivity within pre-tertiary educational institutions
in Ghana’s Central Region. Specifically, it examines the direct effects of
labor regulations on job satisfaction and job productivity, as well as the
mediating role of job satisfaction in the labor regulations–job productivity
nexus. Adopting a quantitative and causal research design, data were
collected from 197 teaching and non-teaching staff through structured
questionnaires. The analysis was conducted using Structural Equation
Modeling (SEM) via SmartPLS 4.0. Findings indicate that labor regulations
have a statistically significant and positive influence on both job satisfaction
and job productivity. Moreover, job satisfaction partially mediates the
relationship between labor regulations and job productivity. The study
highlights the importance of fair and supportive labor regulations in
enhancing employee satisfaction and performance. It recommends that
educational managers develop balanced regulatory frameworks and foster
conducive work environments to optimize productivity. The study
contributes to existing literature by reinforcing agency and social exchange
theories, demonstrating how institutional labor policies shape workplace
outcomes through the mechanism of job satisfaction.