A technical committee set up by the government to address the challenges surrounding the Tier Two pension payment is meeting organised labour today in a bid to avert a general strike declared by 12 labour unions tomorrow.
While the leaders of the 12 public sector workers’ unions would be meeting to work the modalities for tomorrow’s strike, the technical committee is also racing against time to ensure that the relevant agencies met some of the demands of the unions to prevent the indefinite industrial action.
Two weeks ago, the 12 labour unions, operating under a body known as “The Forum for Public Sector Registered Pension Schemes,” declared to strike on September 29 if the government failed to have the National Pension Regulatory Authority (NPRA) transfer their Tier two pension funds for the bank of Ghana to their four private fund manager.
The 12 unions are the Health Services Workers’ Union, Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association, Ghana Medical Association, Ghana Physician Assistants Association, Ghana Hospital Pharmacists Association and Ghana Association of Certified Registered Anesthetists.
Others are the Ghana National Association of Teachers, Teachers and Educational Workers’ Union, National Association of Graduate Teachers, Coalition of Concerned Teachers, Ghana, Civil and Local Government Staff Association Ghana, and Judicial Service Staff Association of Ghana
Apart from the immediate transfer of the money to their fund managers, they also demanded an audited report of the Temporary Pension Fund Account (TPFA) since it was lodged at Bank of Ghana to be made available to their four registered Fund Managers.
According to sources at a previous meeting on Monday between the leadership of the forum and the government representatives, the government intended to settle the workers’ Tier 2 pension with bonds but was rejected by the workers.
They want the fund to be released to their own fund managers.
Addressing a press conference in Accra two weeks ago, Isaac Bampoe-Addo, Chairman of the Forum said members were frustrated and disappointed at the manner government and its agencies have reneged on its adherence to the out of court settlement in February 2016.
Mr Bampoe-Addo said it has been almost one and a half years since all parties agreed on some guidelines with regards to implementing the transfer of the funds from Bank of Ghana to their various fund managers saying, “The situation as it stands speaks volumes of lack of good faith from government.”
He said the Forum has decided to embark on an indefinite strike over the issue since the government on a series of occasions has remained silence whenever the subject was broached.
“After an earlier press conference due to the deafening silence from the government on the issue raised, the forum got its lawyers to write to the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Employment and Labour Relations as well as the Attorney General and Minister of Justice in August 2017 drawing attention to current challenges confronting the implementation of the TIER 2 pension in the public service, but none of them bothered to respond.”
He said the Forum has been pushing for the fund to be transferred to their managers since under the defined contribution scheme; the risk falls on the contributor, and his ultimate benefits depend on earnings from investments saying,” The delay in the release of the funds will not augur well for retirees.”
By Nii Adotey/adrdaily.com
