TUC urges govt to expedite action on ESB

Mr Kofi Asamoah, Deputy Secretary General of Trades Union congress in charge of operations has called on the Tripartite Committee to expedite action on the restoration of End-of-Service Benefits (ESB) of workers.

He said ESB is a genuine concern, which would restore the enthusiasm and image of workers in society and should therefore, be given the utmost attention it deserved. Mr Asamoah made this call at Wa on Thursday when he addressed a regional TUC executive meeting and Council of Labour.

The meeting which attracted about 30 participants made up of regional and district representatives of various union afforded them the chance to clear some issues concerning their working conditions in the country.

The Deputy Secretary General said the withdrawal of ESB was creating a classical segregation in the Ghanaian workforce as some workers such as Members of Parliament and Ministers were still receiving it while others were relying on the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT), which comparatively was peanut.

He said the necessary arrangements had been made for its restoration and called on workers to give their maximum backing and exercise restrain until it was restored. On the national minimum wages, Mr Asamoah expressed dissatisfaction at the government's breach of contract with its partners it signed last year.

He said although the Tripartite Committee agreed in principle that the national minimum wage should be out before the presentation of the national budget, the government went ahead to present the budget without a clear-cut national minimum wage.

Mr Asamoah said the Trade Union Congress intends to decentralise to the district levels to have an impact at the grassroots levels where district secretaries would be appointed to man them.

He rejected the government's plans to privatise water, "as it is going to impoverish the ordinary man in society". Mr Paul Nwine, an executive member said TUC would come out with a resolution that would help cushion the workers at all levels in the country.