Government has agreed to increase the base pay on the Single Spine Salary Structure by 30% for all public sector works.
This comes after several negotiations it had with Organized Labour.
At the beginning of negotiations for the base pay, Organised Labour demanded a 60% percent increment and refused to back down on their demand despite several engagements with government.
Minister for Employment and Labour Relations, Ignatius Baffour-Awuah said the payment takes effect from January 1, 2023.
“The base pay has been increased by 30% for the 2023 financial year…As I said this brings to an end the 2022 COLA of 15% of base pay salary,” Baffour-Awuah announced shortly after the decision was taken.
After refusing government’s initial proposal of 18%, the public sector workers decided to reduce their initial 60% demand to 58%.
Baffour-Awuah informed the house that government was ready to offer 25% and labour also revised its position from 50% to 35%.
After several caucuses government side moved to 27% which was rejected by labour and labour also moved to 30% which happens to be the fall back that will never be revised.
The meeting was joined by the Minister of Finance Ken Ofori-Atta and pleaded with labour to accept 27% and later moved to 28.5%.
After several discussions it was agreed by both Government and labour to increase the base pay by 30%
General Secretary of the Trades Union Congress (TUC), Dr. Yaw Baah expressed gratitude to government for this new development.
“The Leadership of organized Labour would like to express our sincere thanks to government for granting 30% increase in base pay for 2023 for public sector workers. We are happy that it has ended peacefully today.
The Civil and Local Government Staff Association of Ghana (CLOGSAG) has assured of also working collectively with government to increase its revenue base to aid in the development of the country.
Ofori-Atta also said even though the increment will have a toll on the budget, government is committed to ensuring a peaceful environment on the labour front.
