10% base pay increase takes effect this month

The 10% base pay increment in public sector wages agreed last week between government and organised labour, is set to take effect from the month of September.

The Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations recently announced that the 2013 Base Pay of teachers and other government workers has been increased by 10%. The sector Minister, Nii Armah Ashietey made this revelation at the 10th National Delegates and Second Biennial Conference of the National Association of Graduate Teachers in Takoradi.

The 10% increment raises the base pay from Gh¢ 4.84 to Gh¢ 5.32. General Secretary of the Trades Union Congress (TUC), Mr Kofi Asamoah, says organised labour would meet with government on Tuesday to demand a roadmap for the payment of base pay arrears.

"The arrears from January to August [would] have to be negotiated because we did not conclude on when it was going to be paid [when they met with government]", explained the TUC General Secretary.

The Minister explained that the increment is aimed at improving the financial status of public sector workers. He therefore, implored the workers to reciprocate the gesture by working hard to justify the increment.

He disclosed that the government and its social partners will soon begin negotiations towards the determination of the 2014 National Daily Minimum Wage and Base Pay, which would be factored into the 2014 Budget.