The leadership of Organised Labour has been advised to immediately engage workers to calmly settle issues associated with salary increments.
General secretary of the Ghana Federation of Labour (GFL), Abraham Koomson, made this call and observed that if urgent attempts are not made to reduce the agitation of workers, the accumulated tensions could escalate.
He made these comments at the opening session of a two-day workshop organised on Tuesday, September 28, 2021, by the GFL in partnership with the International Labour Organization (ILO), for leading members of unions affiliated with the Ghana Federation of Labour.
“Public sector workers have raised concerns and agitation over the four per cent increment in their salaries for 2021, as determined by the tripartite committee, comprising the government, employers and organized labour. Some of the workers have held demonstrations in parts of the country to protest against the increment. This can break down the already degraded and disabled organised labour to complicate the aggravated challenges of vulnerable workers," Abraham Koomson said.
He stated that given the current economic state and damages caused by COVID-19, the distress by public sector workers against their leadership for non-performance at the tripartite negotiations was legitimate.
"Considering the multiple taxes imposed by the government on citizens this year, despite the ravages of the COVID-19 pandemic and in the midst of the high cost of living in the country, one will find it difficult to understand the acceptance of six per cent minimum wage and four per cent public sector base pay adjustments as a fair and responsible bargain," he said.
Director of programmes and projects at the Bernawel Management and Consultancy services, Dr Julius Kwaku Kattah, also noted that it was important to prioritise the condition of workers as the economy is bouncing back from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dr Julius Kattah stated that it is disturbing to see that while the salaries of workers have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the cost of living has also skyrocketed making life unbearable for workers.