New minimum wage talks underway

The National Tripartite Committee has begun negotiations with organized labour and other stakeholders on a new minimum wage for Ghanaian workers for next year.

Sources close to the Employment ministry say the talks started early this month.

The current minimum wage, which took effect from February this year, is pegged at GH¢3. 73, a twenty percent increment from the previous GH¢3. 11.

It is unclear what figure organized labour is asking for this time around but sources close to the negotiations say the tripartite committee is not likely to go beyond a 20 percent increment.

Speaking at a media interaction recently, the Minister for Employment and Social Welfare, E. T Mensah said the unofficial 20 percent cap is to ensure that employers are not burdened with a huge wage bill so they can pay workers a reasonable minimum wage.