By Iddi Yire
Accra, Aug 30, GNA – Mr Ignatius Baffour Awuah, the Minister of Employment, Labour Relations and Pensions, has congratulated Dr Anthony Yaw Baah, the immediate past Secretary-General, Trades Union Congress (TUC), on his new appointment at the global level.
Dr Baah, who completed his tenure of office as TUC Secretary-General on August 22, has been elected to the Governing Body of the International Labour Organisation for 2024 – 2027.
The new TUC Secretary-General is Mr Joshua Ansah.
Mr Baffour Awuah made a commendation at his address during the Meet the Press Series in Accra on Thursday.
The Employment Ministry held the press briefing in collaboration with the Ministry of Information to update Ghanaians on development in the employment, labour and pensions space.
Mr Awuah said the labour front had been relatively peaceful and stable, which he attributed to the collective tireless efforts of social partners.
“Peace cannot be taken for granted especially in the light of developments in the sub-region,” he said.
“Ghana is regarded as a beacon of peace, thanks to the collective efforts of all concerned.”
The Minister said over the last seven and a half years, the Ministry, with support from key stakeholders, had resolved all industrial disputes that threatened peace and security in the country.
He said the Ministry enjoyed fruitful collaboration from the social partners through the National Tripartite Committee, Social Partnership Council and the National Labour Conference, adding: “Specifically, the National Labour Conference serves as the highest level of engagement among the tripartite constituents on issues of national interest”.
He said that because of discussions held at the conference, the government commissioned a review of the Labour Act, 2003 (Act 651) and the Single Spine Pay Policy to meet the growing needs of workers.
Those efforts resulted in public sector workers on the Single Spine Salary Structure in 2023 receiving the highest adjustment of the Base Pay since the introduction of the Single Spine Pay Policy in 2010, he said.
Within the same period, pensioners on the SSNIT pension payroll also had their monthly pensions indexed upwards by 25 per cent.
“The 25 per cent increment represents the highest pension indexation since the introduction of the contributory Three-Tier Pension Scheme in 2008,” Mr Awuah said.
“These adjustments reflect the Government’s commitment to maintaining high levels of income for both workers and pensioners alike.”
Mr Baffour Awuah recalled that last year the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission conducted a nationwide payroll monitoring, which covered 120 public sector institutions consisting of 97 Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs), six universities, and 17 others.
Analysis of the 2023 payroll data from the Controller and Accountant General’s Department (CAGD) showed a reduction in the wage bill by over GHS 345 million, he said, adding that the payroll monitoring was ongoing.
“I wish to thank the various labour unions for the successful organisation of their respective congresses and the election of new leaders to steer the affairs of the Union,” he said.
“I also commend outgoing union leaders for their cooperation with the Government and wish them the best in their future endeavours.”
GNA