New Daily Minimum Wage For Workers

June 9, 1999

Accra, Ghana (PANA) - The Ghanaian authorities on Wednesday announced a 45- percent increase in the daily minimum wage from 2,000 cedis (80 cents) to 2,900 cedis (1.16 dollars).

The new minimum wage was agreed upon by the National Tripartite Committee at a meeting in Accra, according to a statement issued by the Ministry of Employment and Social Welfare. Signatories to the statement were Austin Gamey, a Deputy Minister of Employment and Social Welfare, H. R. Amonoo, Council Member of Ghana Employers' Association and D. K. Y. Vormawor, Acting Secretary-General of Trades Union Congress (TUC).

It said it was further agreed that the new national daily minimum wage for the year would be gazetted.

The committee said it took note of its previous decisions on the adjustment of taxes on overtime and bonus payments to enhance take-home pay of workers and agreed to submit its recommendations back to Parliament for necessary action.

The National Tripartite Committee agreed to reconvene soon to begin discussions on the determination of the daily minimum wage within a Medium-Term framework.