Officials at the National Labour Commission have confirmed to XYZ News that the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission and the government pharmacists will appear before a compulsory arbitration panel on Monday to settle their tussle over the placement of the pharmacists on the Single Spine Salary Structure (SSSS).

The government pharmacists are the only professionals within the health sector yet to be placed on the new pay structure.

The compulsory arbitration has become necessary since attempts to settle the case amicably have failed.

They have been striking to protest the delay in their placement on the structure. Despite calls on them to rescind their decisions, the pharmacists are adamant and pressing for a quick resolution of their demands.

Director of Grievances and Negotiations at the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission, Cornelius Yawson had told XYZ NEWS the commission is ready to meet the pharmacists at the arbitration panel.

He said “because we are in a democracy and we believe in the rule of law, when the law says that this particular person is the one who will mediate between the parties, we all agree that we will abide by the decision.”

Mr Yawson said whatever decision is taken by the arbitration panel will be binding on all parties.

The strike has pitched hospital administrators and the pharmacists against each other with the former breaking locks on the dispensaries to attend to patients.