Gov’t pegs minimum wage at Ghc7

The daily minimum wage has been increased by 16.7 percent, government has announced.

The minimum wage has now been fixed at GHc7 from GHc6.

The change was announced after the tripartite committee involving government, private employers and labour concluded the week-long negotiation today.

According to Labour minister Haruna Iddrisu, the talks began January 13 at the public services joint standing negotiating committee chaired by the Fair Wages and Salaries Committee.

He said taking an early decision on the public sector wage helps the Controller and Accountant General to facilitate payment of the determined base pay and daily minimum wage.

“I believe it is important for both partners, government and labour, to appreciate legitimate concerns and needs of organised labour and their demands against constraints and capacity of the budget to contain whatever they may be demanding,” the employment minister said.

He added: “It is the determination of government to work with labour to contain the wage bill.

"As a Ministry, our determination remains on the fact that improved and better economic fortunes will be better shared by both government and labour.”