Wages and Salaries Commission to negotiate with the Government soon

Bolgatanga, May 17, GNA- No group of workers would be allowed to negotiate with the Government except the Wages and Salaries Commission when the new pay salary reforms structure is implemented, Dr Paa Kwasi Nduom, Minister for Public Sector Reforms, has said. He said the salary distortions and disparities of workers were being addressed, explaining why the Government was spending a lot of money and time on the current national job analysis and evaluation exercise.

Dr. Nduom who was speaking to public and civil service workers on the new Public Sector Reforms, in Bolgatanga, said the national job evaluation analysis and exercise was gathering information on different jobs in the public sector, with about 8,000 employees.

He said the outcome of this process would be used for the re-grading of jobs based on their comparability and eventually become input for public sector pay consideration. Dr. Nduom said the exercise would be completed in August 2007 so that the resultant adjustment could be captured in the 2008 budget. He said to ensure fairness in the implementation of the new salary structure, the Government had backed the new system by law, with the passing of the Act that established the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission. "Work is being done to ensure that this important Commission starts its work with the right human resources and appropriate facilities", he pointed out.

Dr. Nduom also said that the Public Sector Reforms had also embarked "Conditions of Work Reform" aimed at improving the physical working conditions of public service personnel, and to update available offices with equipment to improve productivity and self esteem of workers. 17 May 07