Minister briefs Parliament on salary situation

Mr Stephen Amoanor Kwao, the Minister of Employment and Social Welfare, on Thursday said factors including the global economy, revenue mobilization, macro- economic indicators, gross domestic product and inflation were some issues that determined the fixing of salaries for workers. He said negotiations between the social partners - the tripartite committee made up of the Ghana Association of Industries, the trade unions and the ability of government to pay - were other determinants that went into fixing suitable and fair salaries for workers.

The Minister was responding to a question from Mr Isaac Asiamah, NPP Member of Parliament for Atwima Mponua on the floor of the House on when negotiations for wages and

salaries for workers would be concluded in view of the rise in fuel prices and the subsequent

increases in the cost of living. Mr Amoanor Kwao told the House that government had over the years awarded annual salary increments to public sector workers to cushion them from financial hardships, as well as motivate them to raise and increase productivity. He said the NDC government was continuing with this convention and had awarded salary increase to the public sector employees such as, nurses and doctors this year, following the conclusion of negotiations. In response to another question from Mr Asiamah on the status of the single spine salary

programme, the Minster said it was a major question and covered a different salary policy and

therefore the MP needed to file a substantive question on that particular question to enable him to

come back to the House to give an appropriate response. The Minister expressed the hope that the new salary levels successfully negotiated for this

year would motivate public sector employees to give "off their best, remain loyal and committed

to government to sustain the on-going industrial peace in the country." 29 Oct 09