Accra, May 1, GNA- President John Evans Atta Mills on Friday announced that progress had been made on discussions on the Single Spine pay structure, and Government was studying a report submitted by a Technical Team on the pay policy for further action.
Also, Government is providing funds and logistics to the Fair Wages Salaries Commission to execute its mandate, in anticipation of the Single Spine pay structure.
"Let me assure you that that the Single Spine Pay Policy remains high on our agenda," President Mills said, as he addressed a parade of Ghanaian workers at the Independence Square, in Accra, on the occasion of this year's celebration of May Day.
The celebration was observed on the theme: "Improved Standard of Living Through Decent Work and Pre-requisite for Sustaining Democratic Governance," with workers at the parade holding placards with messages that mainly called on Government and captains of industries to improve on the working conditions of Ghanaian workers.
President Mills said the Government's social contract with Ghanaians was built on the firm belief that the people had a right to decent and well-paid jobs. The President said the Government was assessing past and current programmes, the 'Youth in Agriculture Programme' and National Youth Employment Programme' and doing the necessary re-engineering that would make them respond to present needs. He reiterated Government's commitment to creating jobs in the economic and productive sectors such as Agriculture, Trade and Industry and Tourism.
"Through our programme of expanding infrastructure in the areas of housing, public works, construction of dams and the construction of roads, we hope to provide more job opportunities to both skilled and unskilled labour.
Government is putting in place support mechanisms support mechanisms to ensure the environment remains friendly to both old and new investors by way of proper legislation as well as improving the public utilities delivery," President Mills said.
The President reiterated Government's premium making sure that living standards were significantly improved, especially the rural and urban poor, with a lot of attention being given to improving access to social services.
"We are introducing a range of social protection schemes in line with our social democracy philosophy.
We are providing security to the informal sector, caring for the disabled as evidenced by the establishment of the Disability Council, and making sure that people living with AIDS are not discriminated against," the President announced.
Government, he said, was in the process of providing free school uniforms and free textbooks to, at least one million needy school children, in the area of agriculture had already provided 50 per cent relief on the cost of fertilizer, and had also approved a sum of GHC 7.5 million for the continuation of the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty Programme.
President Mills noted the likely dwindling donor support, decline in trade, reduced remittances and investment in the economy due to the global economic downturn, and said, "we in Ghana must work out our own homegrown solutions that will enable us weather the economic down turn and enhance our capacity to provide social protection for people facing the brunt of poverty."
Aside the global crisis, President Mills observed that the management of the economy over the past several years had left the a lot to be desired, adding that the economy the present administration inherited was a far cry from what was described as "robust and resilient economy."
President Mills said the solutions to the challenges that the nation faced laid not in constant argument or holding out the begging bowl, and called for partisanship to be put aside and deal with the real issues.
"I am interested in practical outcomes and will continue to stress on the need for all Ghanaians to work together for the common good," the President said.
President Mills said Government would not hesitate to review legislation and agreement to ensure that Ghanaians were not shortchanged in the midst of the circumstances surrounding the global economic crunch.
Consequently, Government has directed a review of the pension act passed last year, bearing in mind the lessons of how deregulation in the financial has brought the world virtually on its knees.
Also, Government is critically examining all protocols and agreement, such as the Economic Partnership Agreement, and would seek advice and inputs from all key players in industry, including employers and unions before taking a decision on the matter, the President said. President Mills congratulated Ghanaians workers on their hardwork, and re-echoed the belief of Government of organized labour as an indispensable partner on creating better lives for Ghanaians. He said despite occasional disagreements, Government would not be found wanting where truth and sincerity were concerned.
