The National Labour Commission (NLC) has directed the Ministries of Health, Finance, and Employment & Labour Relations to within three days furnish it with measures put in place to prevent a looming nationwide strike by doctors in the country.
This follows a threat by doctors to embark on an indefinite strike, effective Monday, 6 August if their concerns with the single spine pay policy and pension-related matters are not addressed.
Executive Secretary of the NLC, Mr Ofosu Asamoah, wants an immediate action to be taken to prevent the strike.
“When we were given notice of a strike or a looming danger, we wrote to the three Ministries; Finance, Health and Employment and Labour to apprise the Commission on what steps they are taking to avert it because we are aware of this issue for some time now; the issue of arrears and market premium and other things. So we are being proactive. We’ve given them three days,” he told Citifm.
Meanwhile, the NLC has appealed to the leadership of the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG), not to embark on a strike, as the Commission makes efforts to address the issue of delayed payment of their outstanding Book and Research Allowance.
Mr. Ofosu Asamoah urged the leadership of UTAG to reconsider their decision to embark on strike, while efforts are made to impress upon the sector ministry to pay the teachers their allowance.
“If there is any intent to go on strike, I plead that they rescind it. However the ministry involved must take practical steps to resolve the problem.
“This is a recurring problem. If there are arrears to be paid, certainly, people must be paid,” he said.
Source: Citifmonline.com
