Agona Swedru, Dec. 29, GNA- The Agona District Council of Labour has called on the government to review downward, the prices of petroleum products to help reduce the burden of workers and ordinary Ghanaian. Mr Francis Odoom, Chairman of the Council who made the call on behalf of the Council at the end of the year meeting at Agona Swedru, said the persistent hike in prices of petroleum products coupled with increases in lorry fares had had negative effects on workers. He said the increment in petrol must lead to salary adjustment for workers to enable them to meet the high transportation cost and payment of school fees of their children.
Mr Odoom appealed to the government to take a second look at the new vehicle law, which imposed a fined of six hundred Ghana Cedis per offence on drivers and described it as too harsh and terrible for drivers to bear.
The Chairman called on the Trade Union Congress (TUC) to declare the current situation of the Labour Enterprise Trust Company established about seven years ago for workers who were direct owners of the company. He said the workers were made to understand by the TUC that deductions would be made at source for the establishment of the company, but since then nothing has been heard about it or no dividend has been paid to any shareholder.
Mr Odoom appealed to the government to review income taxes imposed on government workers, saying that even though there was the need for them to assist the development of the nation, the taxes are too heavy. The Chairman of the Council appealed to the employers to allow workers to take their annual leave since it was not a privileged but a legal right for them to enjoy.
