2016 Budget should be employment-centred – TUC

Government’s 2016 budget, expected to be presented to Parliament next month, must focus on employment creation to reduce the growing number of unemployed graduates in the country, the Trades Union Congress (TUC) has proposed.

This forms part of a number of recommendations highlighted by the TUC as proposal for the 2016 Budget and Economic policies of the Government which was submitted to the Finance Ministry.

“The slow rate of employment creation, particularly for the youth, constitutes the greatest policy challenge facing Ghana today. A review of budget and economic policy statements for the last several years shows that the employment challenge has not received the needed attention in terms of resources committed to employment creation programmes.

“Government’s net employment freeze policy has worsened the situation. Even though health and education sectors are officially exempted from this policy we are aware that the Ministry of Finance either deliberately delays or even refuses to approve requests from the authorities in these two sectors to employ more education and health professionals, even when additional personnel are obviously needed in these two sectors,” the TUC said.

Besides the education and health sectors, the TUC said more people need to be employed by the government in other essential areas despite the net freeze on employment policy.

On account of the several labour unrest that have occurred in the country in recent times, the TUC believes more resources needs to be committed to strengthening labour market institutions to avert future labour conflicts.

“We expect a significant increase in the allocations to these important labour market institutions in the 2016 budget. We urge government to invest in these institutions. Investments in these institutions, in terms of human and material resources, will enhance social dialogue among the social partners and reduce the tension on the labour scene, especially as we enter an election year."