FWSC, organised labour agree on base pay and pay-point relativity
The Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) and Organised Labour and Associations on Wednesday reached agreement on the Base Pay and Pay-Point Relativity.
This formed part of the process towards the implementation of the Single Spine Pay Policy (SSPP).
A communiqué signed by Mr George Smith-Graham, Chief Executive Officer of FWSC, and Mr. Kofi Asamoah, Secretary General of Ghana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) for and on behalf of organised labour said, the Public Services Joint Standing Negotiating Committee (PSJSNC) also agreed on a pay-point relativity of 1.7 per cent and an annual base pay of GH¢1,108.08, translating into GH¢3.42 daily.
The communique, which was read by Mr Smith-Graham, to journalists, said the effective date of implementation of the SSSS was January 1, 2010.
It said PSJSNC also agreed to achieve a pay-point relativity of two per cent by 2012 as part of the process towards achieving full equity and elimination of distortions in public service pay, with the view to improving productivity and service delivery.
Mr Asamoah confirmed the conclusion of negotiations, saying labour appreciated the challenges of putting together a salary structure of such magnitude.
He said labour was fully aware of challenges and complaints such as proper placement and expressed the hope that the FWSC would deal with the operational bottlenecks by 2012 before the implementation was taken to another level.
Mr Asamoah said in clinching the deal, several factors were considered, adding that the framework provided an opportunity every year to move the process forward.
Dr Kwabena Duffuor, Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, was hopeful that the two main objectives of removal of distortions and establishment of equity in public sector pay would be achieved by 2012.
He said the medium term target of two per cent relativity would make public service attractive and help enrol skilled workers to the public services.
Dr Duffuor said a minimum amount of GH¢3.11 billion would be required for implementation, adding however that the full cost would only be known when the Controller and Accountant General’s Department undertook the computations.
Source: GNA