We are being discriminated against - Hospital Pharmacists

The Head of Research of the Communications Team of Government and Hospital Pharmacists Association (GHOSPA), Charles Offei Palm has said the group was being discriminated against by the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) by refusing to implement the ruling by the National Labour Commission.

They have also indicated that they can’t go to court over their grievances as the Fair Wages and Salaries commission has indicated.

“What are we going to do in court, to force the Fair Wages and Salaries commission to implement the outcome?” he questioned.

The Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) stated last week that it has no substantive issues to discuss with the Government and Hospital Pharmacists Association (GHOSPA).

According to the commission, it had implemented all the rulings by the National Labour Commission except the ruling on the grading of the pharmacists which is being contested in court.

The Director of Grievance at the Fair Wages and Salary Commission, Cornelius Yawson however stated that the Pharmacists can proceed to court if they are not satisfied.

Speaking on Citi FM’s Eye Witness news programme, Mr. Offei Palm indicated that although the ruling on the grading of the pharmacists was ruled in their favour, the FWSC has not implemented the ruling.

“It is up to the National Labour Commission to make sure that the Fair Wages and Salary Commission implement the ruling” he said.

According to him, some health workers have had their single spine grading structure reviewed.

“In February 2013 more than 30 categories of staff at the Ministry of Health had their grading structure changed.

They have been given new grading structures and levels” he lamented.

He opined that based on the job evaluation “the people were placed badly because when you look at the grading structure they didn’t follow the due process.”

He called for proper interrogation into the grading of the reviewed single spine structure of the health workers and questioned if the FWSC had any issue with GHOSPA.

“What beef has FWSC got with the pharmacists in this country” he questioned

He called on the FWSC to come clean and explain to Ghanaians the reason for their decision.

He further stated that they would be at the tripartite meeting tomorrow although they know it would not yield any results.