THERE HAS been an outbreak of excitement among some public sector workers following the announcement of 30% increment in salaries by government. While the majority of workers expressed gratitude to their Union leaders for a good show at the negotiation table, others felt extremely disappointed.
In July 2022, government reluctantly agreed on a temporary 15% Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) to public sector workers. This was in reaction to threats of strike actions by the various labour unions amidst a skyrocketing inflation rate of over 31%. This allowance was to be paid from July 2022 till the end of the year. Getting towards the end of 2022, most public sector workers became anxious as to what will be their fate in the new year.
As per their custom, the ever cunning NPP government went on the table with organized labour to negotiate for 2023. It looked very bright for the labour unions in the beginning, as they proposed a whopping 60% increment only for government to respond with 18%. After several meetings, government kept dragging their feet. With the future now looking gloomy, organized labour had no option but to lower their demands.
At the peak of the negotiation, the sly NPP government hesitantly shifted from their original 18% to 21% on condition that, the non-taxable 15% COLA will be maintained. In response, Organized labour ignorantly requested for both to be combined, making a 36% direct increment without the COLA against the current inflation rate of over 54%, emphasizing that the COLA could be taken off eventually by the shrewd NPP government as it pleases.
At the end of the entire negotiation, both parties arrived at a conclusion to increase the base pay by 30%. But the question is, does this decision add any value to the working conditions of the already impoverished Ghanaian worker? The answer is a big NO. Scraping the non-taxable 15% COLA and replacing it with a 30% taxable income is like “selling a thief in order to buy a witch”.
This is because, the only difference between December 2022 salary and January 2023 salary is a meagre taxable 15% amidst a rather higher inflation rate of over 54%.
It appears leadership of organised labour were in cahoots with wily NPP administration to outwit the poor Ghanaian workers to continue to be impoverished; While leadership organised labour government continue to be richer.
They must bow their heads in shame because public sector workers have actually been scammed by the Akufo Addo led NPP government in connivance with the Labour Unions Leadership.
Dr. Yaw Baah and his colleagues leaders from other labour Unions should not be saluted if even they had made the government to maintain the Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) of 15% in the existing gross salary; based on the current killer inflation of over 54%, against 30% and 15% (45%) salary increase to try to relief workers of their burden.
The government still has the chance to reduce the huge number of presidential staff and salaries some identifiable article 71 office holders to enable her pay the salaries of the Ghanaian workers.
AUTHOR: Richmond Commey, A Political Youth Activist.
Source: Nationaltymes.com
