Govt urged to pay workers living wages

Bolgatanga, Feb. 28, GNA - The Deputy Secretary in charge of operations of the Trades Union Congress, Mr Kofi Asamoa on Wednesday urged the Government to hasten the implementation of the payment of living wages to workers.

He made the call in Bolgatanga when he met leaders of Trade Unions to throw more light on the progress of the Union to members. He stressed that it was only when workers were paid living wages that they would be motivated to work harder to increase productivity and said the Fair Wages Commission set up by the Government needed to speed up in the discharge of it duties.


The Deputy Secretary noted that the current minimum wage that was paid to workers was nothing to write home about and stated that it was only when workers were paid better that the poverty level in the country could be curtailed.


He explained that rampant industrial action usually embarked upon by workers would also be reduced if government speeded up the implementation of the workers living wages.


Mr Asamoa also appealed to the government to intensify its public education on the re-denomination of the cedi in order to avert confusion during the exercise.


He commended the government for introducing the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP) and said it would help address the unemployment problem facing the youth.

On some of the activities carried out so far by the TUC, Mr Asamoa, said it had asked the government to strengthen the Ghana Statistical Service to generate a vibrant labour market information system. "Currently the Labour Market Information System is weak and this makes it difficult for the proper and effective implementation of labour related issues," he said.


Mr Asamoa also noted that the sub-tripartite group was holding consultations on living wages and would pressurise the government to hasten its implementation.


Participants called on the executive members to periodically organize refresher courses on good leadership for members of the Union to enable them to update and sharpen their skills.


They impressed on the leadership of the TUC to persuade government to pay retirement benefits in a lump sum to enable workers to undertake meaningful projects.