July 11, 2017
The government has announced a 10 percent increase of the daily national minimum wage, pushing it GH¢8.80 to GH¢ 9.68.
The upward adjustment would take effect January 1, 2018.
It followed months of negotiations by the National Tripartite Committee (NTC) comprising the government represented by the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations consultations between the ministry, the Trades Union Congress (TUC) and Ghana Employers’ Association.
It is the first time to have the negotiations concluded early in July as previous negotiations have ended after August.
Addressing journalists in Accra today after the conclusion on negotiations by the Committee, Mr. Ignatius Baffour Awuah, Employment Minister organisations, urged orgnisations, especially in the private sector to adhere to the new wage base when it takes effect.
“Any establishment, institution or organization that flouts the new rate shall be sanctioned in accordance with the law,” he said.
Aside the 10 per cent increment, Mr. Awuah said the NTC agreed that a committee be set up to look into the total overhaul of the Pension Scheme structure, particularly the second tier system.
He stressed that productivity of workers should commensurate with the rise in daily minimum wage.
In addition, he explained that beneficiaries of the new rate are exempted from tax.
He reiterated the commitment of the NTC to improve incomes and productivity in both the public and private sectors of the Ghanaian economy.
Dr. Yaw Baah, Secretary General of TUC, for his part, commended the government for the increase and urged effective monitoring and implementation.
He appealed to the government to resource the Lbour Department to enable it to ensure compliance of the review and other labour regulations.
Mr. Yaw Baah R. Darko, President of the Ghana Employers’ Association (GEA), also welcomed the upward review, adding that the association remains commitment towards enhancing the welfare of workers.
By: Nii Adotey/adrdaily.com
