The government after several negotiations with Organised Labour has agreed to increase the base pay salary of government sector workers by 30% beginning in 2023.
This decision was taken after a series of unsuccessful negotiations between the government and Organised Labour.
“The base pay has been increased by 30 per cent for the 2023 financial year…As I said this brings to an end the 2022 COLA of 15 per cent of base pay salary,” Employment Minister, Ignatius Baffour-Awuah announced shortly after the decision was taken.
At the beginning of negotiations for the base pay, Organised Labour demanded a 60 per cent increment and refused to accept any proposal from the government apart from what they are demanding.
The government after the 58-60 per cent demand for a base pay increment, proposed an 18 per cent increment for the workers.
However, after Thursday’s meeting with the government which included Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta who has been absent from all the previous meetings, Organised Labour agreed to a 30 per cent increase in the base pay although they had vowed not to back down on their demand.
The General Secretary of the Trades Union Congress (TUC), Dr. Yaw Baah expressed gratitude to the government for this new development.
“The Leadership of organized Labour would like to express our sincere thanks to the government for granting a 30 per cent increase in base pay for 2023 for public sector workers. We are happy that it has ended peacefully today”.
“The 30 per cent even though it is not what we want, will create that opportunity for us to speak one language to work together”, he added.
Executive Secretary of the Civil and Local Government Staff Association, Ghana (CLOGSAG), Dr. Isaac Bampoe-Addo also informed the government delegation that, “we want to assure the government that we will collaborate with them and come up with ideas to improve the revenue generation. We know the next time we meet for base pay negotiations, it will be a better story.”
The Finance Minister at the meeting noted that the increment will put a strain on the country’s finances.
“As I mentioned this will take a toll on the budget, but we are confident that we would enhance productivity and the commitment that we both have given to each other to make sure that there is peace in this country as we look at pension and labour issues.”
With the new directive to increase the base pay salary of government workers by 30 per cent, the government said the 15 per cent Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) for public sector workers has ceased.
Find the Agreement Letter Below
