Workers Give Government Ultimatum Over ESBs

The Tema District Council of Labour has given government a one-month ultimatum to restore the End of Service Benefits (ESBs) and abolish the new taxes on overtime and bonus allowances. The council is prepared to adopt all available means to achieve these objectives if government fails to meet their demands on expiry of the period.

The council took the decisions at a general meeting to discuss pertinent issues affecting workers in Tema and the entire country. The Chairman of the Tema District Council of Labour, Wilson Agana said the fight should not be seen as an attack on the government, but rather on policies that are not in the interest of workers.

The council, which comprises workers’ representative in all factories and other work places in Tema, says the fact that the PNDC government, which froze the ESBs but is no longer in power did not mean workers should not fight to repair any damage caused by the withdrawal.

The Council also noted that the Ghana Employers Association, which supported the abolishment of the ESBs is forming a coalition to frustrate the efforts of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) to restore it.

The council also expressed regret that the TUC has been silent on the taxation imposed on allowances and stressed the need for the leadership of the union to be more proactive instead of always waiting for workers to prompt them before they act.