Accra, July 14, GNA – The Government of Ghana and Organised Labour have agreed on a 15 per cent Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) for public service workers.
The payment of the 15 per cent COLA, which will take effect from July 1, 2022, will be paid on basic salaries of workers.
The various unions had demanded 20 per cent.
A communique jointly signed by the Government and Organised Labour at a third meeting between the parties since the demand for COLA started this year, said the allowance would cushion workers amidst the economic challenges facing the country.
The Government was represented by the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC), Ministry of Finance (MoF), Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations (MELR), Ministry of Education and Ministry of National Security.
The unions, after the agreement, called off all industrial actions.
“That all industrial actions underway and threats of same will be called off immediately and that Labour would return to work forthwith,” the communique stated.
Dr Anthony Yaw Baah, the Secretary General of the Trade Unions Congress (TUC), encouraged all workers on strike to return to work.
Four Teacher Unions went on strike after the Government failed to meet their June 30, 2022, deadline for the payment of the allowance.
They are Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), the Teachers and Educational Workers’ Union (TEWU) and the Coalition of Concerned Teachers, Ghana (CCT-GH).
Other Unions within the public service, including the Public Services Workers Union (PSWU) and the Medical Laboratory Professional Workers’ Union (MELPWU) had also hinted of going on strike over the payment of COLA.
Meanwhile, the Government ended its first meeting with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Wednesday, aimed at the Fund supporting Enhanced Domestic Programme with a loan agreement to ensure macroeconomic stability, restore investor confidence as well as fiscal and debt sustainability.
GNA