Workers briefed on Single Spine Salary Structure

Bolgatanga, April 8, GNA - Government employees in Upper East Region on Monday were briefed by the Trades Union Congress (TUC) on how far Government had reached working on the Single Spine Salary Structure to be introduced soon.

Mr Kofi Asamoah, Acting General Secretary of TUC, explained that under the public sector reforms, all jobs in the public sector were being evaluated to determine salaries based on the principle of equal work for equal value.

"The reforms are expected to lead to the introduction of a unified, single, spine Salary Structure for all public Sector Workers listed under Article 190 of the constitution which include our members," he reiterated.

Mr Asamoah stated that TUC was participating fully in the process to ensure that its members in the public sector were rewarded equitably. He explained that the meetings with the consultant of the reforms projects had been moving forward and backwards given the enormity of the task involved in the placement of jobs on the single spine. He stated that it had been agreed by social partners that salaries and wages for 2008 should be negotiated at the various public sector negotiating machinery while waiting and expecting the consultant's report which is expected by June 2008.

Currently, there are more than 600,000 public sector workers providing various services in areas such as water, health, education, water, sanitation, electricity and security.

Mr Asamoah said despite the fact that Ghana had been a signatory to numerous international Labour Conventions and the Labour Act, many employers continued to frustrate workers. "Many workers' salaries are meagre and even sometimes delayed".

He advocated for better salaries and conditions of workers, saying it was only through this that workers would be motivated to work harder to increase productivity.

He expressed the hope that with the introduction of the Single Spine concept, salaries and conditions of services of workers could be improved.

He stressed the need for unity and solidarity at the labour front and said the cardinal principle of Trades Union was Unity and Solidarity. The meeting also deliberated on plans towards this year's May Day Celebration.