Organised Labour has taken a firm stance against the government’s proposal to implement a Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) during next year’s salary negotiations for public sector employees.
COLA, often seen as an interim measure designed to offer relief when immediate salary adjustments are unfeasible, has been met with skepticism by Organised Labour.
They argue that it would not positively impact pension disbursements and other associated benefits.
Deputy General Secretary of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Mr. Joshua Ansah, has emphasized their unwavering stance. He stated that they will advocate for substantial salary increments instead of settling for a mere COLA.
Addressing reporters in Accra, Mr. Ansah conveyed, “Choosing COLA would be ill-advised, as it fails to influence our pensions or overall earnings. Our preference is to secure the rightful compensation we deserve.
Furthermore, it’s important to highlight that if the government entertains IMF involvement, it must safeguard our national minimum wage from any detrimental implications.”
Mr. Ansah’s statement regarding potential IMF involvement raises another critical point. Organised Labour is calling on the government to ensure that any decisions made in collaboration with international financial institutions must safeguard the national minimum wage.
As this issue continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how the government will respond to the concerns raised by Organised Labour. One thing is clear: the dialogue between these stakeholders will play a critical role in shaping the future of public sector employee compensation in Ghana.
NEW UPDATE: An agreement has been reached regarding the 2024 base pay & salary negotiation. Learn more about it on this page.
Source: GESHub.org
