Workers object to deductions

Accra, Aug. 15, GNA - Members of the Greater Accra branch of the Organised Labour on Friday, objected to government's decision to deduct two and half per cent of their social security contributions for the proposed National Health Insurance Scheme.

According to the agitated workers, the government should rather find an alternative since the deductions would have a serious impact on projections for the long-term viability of the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) and their retirement benefits.


"We are still not clear of the benefits we would derive from the scheme and that our social security benefits are already not enough and that any deductions would jeopardize our lives."


The workers made up of representatives from the Trades Union Congress (TUC), Civil Servants Association, Ghana National Association of Teachers, Ghana Registered Nurses Association and Judicial Services Staff Association of Ghana raised the objection at a joint consultative forum in Accra.


The forum was to enable the Executives of the organised labour to collate views from members on the government's decision.


The workers also called for the restoration of social insurance scheme, which according to them; was not included in the final Bill, which would be tabled before parliament in the next few days. According to them the social insurance scheme, which would have been managed by the workers themselves, was originally part of the proposed National Insurance Bill but was cut off at the final stage before it was submitted to Parliament.

"Government would not be treating workers fairly if our views are not considered".


They, however, threatened to embark on a strike action if government should stick to its decision to effect the deductions. Mr Kwaku Darko Afari, Head of the Public Affairs of the TUC, said workers were at a loss as to the benefits they would derive from the contributions.


"We do not even know which areas would be covered by the scheme whether antenatal, accidents or caesarean operations", he said. Mr Afari called for a Legislative Instrument that would spell out the benefits workers would derive and what the monies would be used for. He said any tax to support health insurance and health care financing must be a general tax that everyone in either in the formal or non-formal sector would contribute to as equitably as possible, adding, "about one million workers cannot shoulder the burden of 18 million people".


He said a national consultative meeting would be held next week to collate views from the regions out of which the final decision would be taken.