IMF bailout: There won't be job cuts – Gov’t reiterates

Government has reiterated its position that there are no plans of laying off public sector workers as it nears an agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on a possible bailout.

The assurance follows fears expressed by organised labour that government may be compelled to lay off workers as a condition for an IMF bailout.

The Bretton Wood Institution, in a communiqué issued last Friday after talks with government officials, backed plans by government to reduce the country’s high public sector wage bill.

Speaking in an interview with STARR NEWS, Deputy Finance Minister, Cassiel Ato Forson said the recommendations by the IMF will not lead to job cuts in the public sector.

“We are not going to lay off workers; that is out of it. That is not what we are talking about. We have always engaged labour in this matter.

“We work with labour, and we will always continue to work with labour to ensure that we do what is right for labour," Forson told STARR NEWS.