Organised Labour is demanding a transparent and inclusive process in the planned transition from the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) to the proposed Independent Public Emoluments Commission (IPEC).

The Trades Union Congress (TUC) says workers must be assured that commitments made during consultations on the new institution will translate into concrete policies and decisions.

TUC Secretary-General, Joshua Ansah, made the call during a two-day stakeholder engagement involving government, organised labour and other stakeholders to discuss the draft framework for establishing IPEC.

Ansah said organised labour would closely monitor the transition and hold government accountable for commitments made during the consultations.

He said while organised labour remained committed to constructive engagement, it would insist on accountability to protect the interests of workers and the wider public sector.

Meanwhile, the Minister for Labour, Jobs and Employment, Dr Abdul-Rashid Hassan Pelpuo, described the transition as an opportunity to reform Ghana’s system for determining public sector pay and allowances.

He said the proposed commission must operate on the principles of fairness, independence, transparency, accountability and consistency, while ensuring that workers’ welfare is balanced with the country’s fiscal limitations.

Dr Pelpuo also urged stakeholders to use the consultation process to raise difficult issues and offer practical proposals before the framework is finalised.

For his part, the Chief Executive Officer of the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission, Dr George Smith Graham, said robust debate and disagreements would be necessary to establish an institution capable of addressing Ghana’s longstanding compensation challenges.

He noted that although the country’s public sector pay system had evolved over the years, challenges remained over allowances, differences in remuneration among occupational groups, attracting and retaining skilled professionals and linking compensation to productivity.

Dr Graham said the proposed IPEC must be guided by fairness, equity, transparency, independence, productivity, accountability and social dialogue.

He added that the new institution would have to strike a balance between providing fair remuneration to public sector workers, maintaining fiscal sustainability and ensuring value for money and improved public service delivery.

The stakeholder consultations form part of efforts to shape the proposed framework for IPEC before the transition from the existing FWSC is completed.