Minister Calls Organised Labour's Bluff

The Minister for Manpower Development and Employment, Yaw Barima has called the bluff of the Trades Union Congress, which is threatening to go to court to challenge government’s planned deduction of 2.5 percent of worker’s SSNIT contributions to support the National Health Insurance Scheme. The Minister says organised labour is at liberty to go to court if it so wishes.

The TUC has indicated its intention to go to court as a last resort to challenge what it describes as government’s arbitrary decision to deduct 2.5 per cent of workers’ social security contributions. But Mr. Barima told JOY FM that government is not in the least perturbed by the decision.

''This is a free society, if people feel strongly about the legality of government action, certainly they have a right to go to court, that is why the constitution provides for a machinery for resolving disputes in such a situation. We did not set out on this course without seeking the necessary legal advice and we are convinced that what we have done is within the legal confines and there is nothing wrong'', the Minister noted.

Mr. Barima dismissed criticism that government failed to exhaust the consultative process with organised labour before the National Health Insurance bill was passed into law. According to him government gave the TUC 200 million cedis to enable them to consult their members in the various regions to collate their views on the bill before it was passed by Parliament.

The Minister said in spite of government’s readiness to welcome inputs from civil society groups, the final decision is government’s prerogative.

Mr Barima however noted that there would still be consultation between government and the workers union aimed at finding a solution to the crisis, but was quick to add that the TUC can go ahead with its legal suit if a compromise is not reached.