TUC proposed minimum wage is insufficient -.Chigabatia

Mr. S. Y. A. Chigabatia, Executive Secretary of the Civil Servants Association has said that the 5,500 cedis daily minimum wage proposed by the Trades Union Congress (TUC) is inadequate in view of the rising cost of living in the country.

He said the Value Added Tax as a consumable tax has caused price increases. Mr. Chigabatia who was speaking to the Ghana News Agency in an interview at the weekend said government had always used the falling prices of primary products as reason for the decline in the economy. He said this is not acceptable adding, "Before we can agree that we don't have money we must see it reflecting in the lifestyles of people in government".

He said if the government had encouraged the production of more maize, rice, and other local food items the excess of these items could be exported for foreign exchange. Mr. Chigabatia stressed the need for government to set production targets for these food items and ensure that they are achieved. He said it is the responsibility of government to organize public transport efficiently to enable workers to be punctual, adding that qualified senior staff should be encouraged to own their means of transport by entering into an agreement with car manufacturing companies for bulk purchases for interested workers. "There should be some openness. Let us run the economy together" he added.