We haven’t frozen wage increments – Fmr. Dep. Finance Minister

 A former Deputy Minister of Finance, Abena Osei Asare, had debunked reports that government will freeze increment of public sector wages. 

Her comments come after reports suggested there was going to be a freeze in the wages of public sector workers from 2021 to 2024, a situation that has caused some anxiety in the sector.

“Usually, we hold public sector wages in April. So, we’re really looking forward to having the negotiations with all the relevant stakeholders as we have been doing and then we can take it up from there. And so, come April 2021, we will begin the public sector wage negotiations.

“I don’t think we have said anywhere that there’s a freeze for three years. What we do is that we negotiate. We sit with public sector workers. We have a public sector joint wages negotiations team from the government side, employers, as well as from unions.

While calling for calm among public sector workers, Madam Osei Asare said the negotiations have become crucial due to the impact of COVID-19 on the economy.

“Together, we’re all going to sit and decide how best at this stage in this country what we all can do to sustain jobs, provide the needed job security, and at the same time boost economic growth to help us get where we really want to get after this adverse effect of COVID-19 pandemic on our economy,” she said in an interview monitored by theghanareport.com.

According to her, despite the disruptions brought by COVID-19, negotiations will ensure that all parties walk away satisfied.

“When you look at the previous year when the pandemic was at its peak, the government did all that it had to do and it is the same mentality we have to do what is expected of us and make sure the government is not worse off, the worker is not worse off, and the economy grows. That’s the focus of government,” she told Accra-based Starr FM.