Labour-Gov’t Impasse: NLC asked to step in

The National Labour Commission (NLC) has been called upon to intervene in the ongoing tussle between government and the Forum of Public Sector Registered Pension Scheme over the second-tier pension scheme.

“The National Labour Commission must come in either as a mediator or arbitrator,” suggested a labour expert.

Both government and the Forum – made up of 12 labour unions – appear to have taken entrenched positions over management of the scheme.

While government insists it remains the safest custodian of any public funds, the workers are demanding whereabouts of the funds.

They are accusing their employers of keeping them in the dark over the funds’ management.

Speaking on TV3 on Tuesday, November 11, labour expert Prince Armah told TV3 that: “National Labour Commission should come in.

“Government or the trade unions can refer the matter to National Labour Commission for adjudication in this particular instance.”

The Forum has scheduled November 13 to renew their industrial action against government’s stance though government has secured a restraining order from the court to prevent the workers from striking.

“You are dealing with labour and once you give in to some of these demands they push.”

The scheme is 5.5 per cent deductions of monthly incomes of workers with the first batch of beneficiaries ready to retire in January, next year.