The Fair Wages and Salaries Commission is assuring calm on the labour front as labour unions continue to strike less than a month into the New Year.
This assurance comes on the back of about five industrial actions taken by some labour Unions in furtherance of demands for better conditions of service.
Currently, members of the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) and Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG), are on strike pushing for their concerns to be addressed by the government.
The Public Relations Officer of the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission, Earl Ankrah, says government is committed to addressing the various concerns of the striking workers.
“For us as government, it’s okay for workers to express their desire for better conditions of service. But we would rather wish that they went through the process because we work under law and give the employer some advance time, give the National Labour Commission some time and when they are invited, they come for timelines to be set for the issues to be taken care of.”
“The employer’s hands are tied when workers are on strike because it is against the law. Sometimes government bends over which may not be consistent with what the National Labour Commission wishes.”
Recently, a public order and safety assessment report conducted by a political advisory firm, IntelAfrique Limited, showed that labour agitations are gradually becoming dominant.
The unrest according to the firm, is a result of unfavourable remunerations and poor conditions of service.
To quell the frequency and intensity of such incidents, IntelAfrique has thus asked relevant authorities in the labour space to focus on creating an enabling working environment to foster proper human capital development and economic growth.
In particular, it asked both the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission and the National Labour Commission to proactively solve all challenges associated with remuneration as well as mediation of grievances of labour groups or public sector workers.
