Govt asked to tackle single-spine "grey areas" before implementation

Tamale, May 22, GNA - Government has been asked to deal with "grey areas" within the single-spine salary structure (SSSS), before its implementation.

Salary structure pay levels, relativities within the pay structure and consolidation of allowances were some of the areas that the authorities would have to consider. Mr. Isaac Bampoe Addo, National Treasurer of the Civil Servants' Association of Ghana (CSA), made the call at a workers' durbar, organised by the association to brief workers on the SSSS and welfare issues, in Tamale on Friday. He said a sample of the completed report on the SSSS in the possession of the association indicated that not much had been done about original salary structure levels as compared to what was in the present SSSS.

Mr Addo cited that a Chief Executive Officer and an Accountant on the payroll were still placed on "Levels 16 and 15" respectively. Mr. James Amissah, the Acting Executive Secretary of CSA, said the association was negotiating with the government to restore the end-of-service (ESB) benefits to workers. He said the association did not see any reason why politicians could take huge sums as their ex-gratia awards but when it came to the ESB for workers the government would "drag its feet". Mr. Amissah said "We are also citizens of this country and demand our fair share of the national cake". He urged workers to take advantage of the welfare packages at their various workplaces to improve upon their lot instead of relying on the government for everything. Mr. Amissah also called on workers to undertake to upgrade their skill and knowledge towards increased productivity.