VALCO Ordered To Calculate Salary Arrears At '84 rates

Accra Mr. Justice Kwame Afreh, sitting as an additional High Court Judge, today ruled that the salary arrears of 463 employees of Volta Aluminium Company (VALCO) wrongfully dismissed in 1984, be calculated according to the rates at that time.

Mr. Justice Afreh ordered further that other entitlements to be paid to the affected workers such as end-of-leave bonuses, long service awards (including food packages) that they enjoyed on the "gentleman's agreement" be converted, if feasible, to cash. He said modalities on the payments are being worked out and therefore adjourned proceedings to June 27.

The workers in their statement of claim had demanded that their salary arrears be calculated at the present rate. The Supreme Court referred the case to the High Court in 1990 to calculate the entitlements due to each redundant worker.