C'ttee on Fair Wages Commission presents report

Accra, Aug. 7, GNA - A 10-member committee established to work out modalities for the smooth take-off and implementation of the Fair Wages Commission, a body to administer salaries across the public sector, on Tuesday presented its report to government.

The Government announced the setting up of a Fair Wages Commission in the 2007 Budget to undertake job evaluation, analyse existing data and job content reviews along side market surveys and other research needed to determine the relative worth of all public sector positions. Parliament in March this year passed the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission Bill, which is aimed at ensuring equal pay for equal work and eliminate ad hoc negotiations for adjustments of wage and salary. Consequently, a single pay spine would be implemented to cover all positions in the public sector, to make it easier to perform job evaluations and determine the relative worth of every public sector position.

Dr C.Y. Brempong-Yeboah, Deputy Minister of Manpower, Youth and Employment and Chairman of the Committee, said members looked at the structure and the administrative set up of the Commission. They also worked on a draft legislative instrument that would facilitate the work of the Commission.

Nana Akomea, Minister of Manpower, Youth and Employment, who received the report, said the Commission would ensure that a level playing field was created for compensation and salaries for equal work across the public sector.

This, he said, would allow for uniformity in the labour front. Nana Akomea assured the Committee that government would take into account its recommendations in the establishment of the Commission. Earlier, Alhaji Abubakar Saddique Boniface, outgoing Minister of the Ministry, handed the baton of office to Nana Akomea.