Lab professionals, CETAG others take undignified salaries – Labour Analyst

Labour analyst, Seth Ablorh has disclosed that the Colleges of Education Teacher Association of Ghana (CETAG), and the Medical Laboratory Professionals Workers Union (MELPWU) among other public sector workers take home undignified salaries.

This comes on the back of the two groups Medical Laboratory Professionals Workers Union and the Colleges of Education Teacher Association of Ghana embarking on a nationwide strike.

The Labour Commission on Thursday, June 20, 2024, directed MELPWU members to end the strike and return to the negotiation table with the government.

The MELPWU initiated their strike on June 17, citing the government’s delay in addressing their conditions of service. The industrial action has significantly impacted public health services, leaving patients stranded and forcing many to seek more expensive laboratory services at private facilities.

A visit to Ridge Hospital and the Adabraka Polyclinic reveals that the strike is still in force despite the order.

However, the Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana has indicated that they will not discontinue the strike action despite calls by the National Labour Commission for them to call off their strike.

Speaking on the Starr Midday News with Naa Dedei Tettey, the Labour analyst explained that the government has brought the current labour unrest on itself.

“It is rather unfortunate that we should be having these agitations in these critical public sectors. But if you scan the industrial relations scene you will notice that these are coming because these public sector workers are not paid dignified salaries.

“As far back as 2020, the Yaa Ntiamoah Bedu Committee Report on Emoluments for Article 71 officeholders advised the government to take urgent steps to address the challenges of public sector salary. So that the workers will work and live in dignity.

“Four years down the line, the government has done nothing about it. The government hasn’t given any indication that they are going to work to concretize the recommendations of the Yaa Ntiamoah Bedu Committee as it relates to public sector workers,” Mr. Ablorh stated.

He also blamed the Fair Wages and Salaries Commissions for not doing much for the Ghanaian worker.