Freezing wages for 2014 impossible – Akoto Osei

Ranking member of the finance committee of Parliament, Dr Anthony Akoto Osei says government’s decision to freeze wage increments for this year cannot be possible.

“That is almost an impossibility,” the former minister of state at the finance ministry said in Parliament on Tuesday after Finance Minister Seth Terkper presented an urgent address to the house about the state of the economy.

According to him, rather than insisting on a freeze on salary raises, government should opt for minimum increments for all public sector workers as well as anyone who draws salary from the consolidated fund.

“If you say a lower wage increase, it’s understandable. But when inflation has gotten to 14 percent; it is difficult to insist on a ‘no wage increase’”.

“But it should go beyond the public service,” Dr Akoto Osei suggested, adding that: “I think all employees that are on government payroll, you should negotiate; including Parliament. Maybe the Majority Leader might be agreeable to a 10 percent wage cut.”