TUC threatens protest march

Cape Coast, Sept 16, GNA - The Trades Union Congress (TUC) will demonstrate on Wednesday, September 24 against the government's intention to deduct 2.5 percent workers Social Security National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) contributions for the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).

The TUC has therefore, given the government an "ultimatum for a dialogue before the eve of the day of the intended demonstration.'' Mr Joshua Ansah, the General-Secretary of the Timber and Wood Workers Union (TWU), issued the warning on Tuesday when he addressed the Cape Coast District Council of Labour.

He said government had deliberately refused to consult and involve organised labour on important issues concerning the economy.

Mr Ansah mentioned the adoption of the HIPC initiative, deliberations on the minimum wage and fuel price increases as some of the pertinent issues in which the workers leadership was marginalized even though they had direct impact on workers.

"It is not fair for about one million workers contributing to the SSNIT scheme to sponsor the health insurance scheme with their contributions for the rest of the population.''

"If the government is saying it will source funds to support the SSNIT scheme in the event of its collapse that money should rather be used for the funding of the NHIS", he said.

Mr Ansah said the TUC is not against the scheme but its fear is that it would be a "nine-day wonder" since no measures have been put in place to continue with funding when funds from SSNIT are depleted.

Mr Ansah appealed to the government to consider implementing the scheme at the district level as is already being done and to evaluate its success or otherwise before it is implemented nationwide.

During an open forum most workers said they were unhappy about the way workers contribution was being invested by SSNIT and asked it to render accounts of all monies that it had invested.

They described as unfortunate the situation where workers contributions are used to build blocks of flats that workers do not occupy and are also beyond their ability to purchase.

The workers called for an upward adjustment of interest on SSNIT loans to students from the current six per cent to at least 15 per cent, since banks now charge 35 per cent interest on loans.

The council said it is not happy with the delay in the payment of Labour Enterprises Trust (LET) dividends in respect of shares bought by workers about five years ago.