Pre-Tertiary Teacher Unions declared a strike on 4th of July to press home their demand for a 20% Cost of Living Allowance (COAL). However, there are other allowances (COLA and All Allowances Ghanaian Teachers Are Supposed To Enjoy). They have been captured in the Collective Agreement.
The chance of the unions obtaining additional allowances in addition to the COLA is possible and depends on the bargaining power of the teacher union leaders when they meet the government on 12th July 2022 for the planned meeting.
Public school teachers are supposed to enjoy other allowances yet, the government has not officially considered these legitimate allowances which are paid to other public sector workers.
All Allowances Teachers May Enjoy If COLA is approved and union leaders are proactive
These Allowances for the teachers are contained in the Collective Agreement signed by Teacher Unions in Education Service (on behalf of all teaching employees in the Ghana Education Service) and the Ghana Education Service (GES) in 2017.
According to the agreement, a joint negotiating committee made up of the Teacher Unions and the Ghana Education Service (GES) have negotiated and agreed on the terms and conditions of service for GES employees.
The agreement also outlined the scheme of service and the code of professional conduct for the teaching personnel of Ghana education in accordance with Sections 99 and 102 of the labour Act, 2003 (Act 651).
Some of these allowances such as
- Rent Allowance
- Allowance for form masters at the JHS and Class teachers at the primary school.
- Risk allowance
- Research allowance
- Allowances for teachers in deprived communities and others are detailed below.
COLA and All Allowances Ghanaian Teachers Are Suppose To Enjoy: Below is the full approved rates of allowances for GES staff
VEHICLE MAINTENANCE ALLOWANCE
1. Car: GH¢210.00 per month
2. Motorcycle: GH¢70.00 per month
3. Bicycle: GH¢28.00 per month
KILOMETRIC ALLOWANCE
1. Car: GH¢3.50 per kilometre
2. Motorcycle: GH¢1.40 per kilometre
NIGHT ALLOWANCE
1. Chief Director/Chief Executive – GH¢490.00 per night
2. Coordinating Director/Deputy Chief Executive/Head of Department – GH¢ 420.00 per night
3. Director – GH¢350.00 per night
4. Senior Staff – GHÇ280.00 per night
5. Junior Staff – GHÇ210.00 per night. All-inclusive.
Note: Where accommodation or meals are provided, the rate abated by one-third (1/3).
TREKKING OFFICERS
1. Not exceeding 12 days in a quarter-full overnight allowance
2. Beyond 12 days – half (1/2) the rate of night allowance.
ALLOWANCES FOR TEACHERS IN DEPRIVED/DIFFICULT AREAS
1. To be determined by GES in conjunction with the Fair Wages and Salary Commission (FWSC)
2. Difference between the (Acting) Officer’s salary and minimum salary point of the (acting) post or 20% of monthly basic salary whichever is higher
15% of the monthly basic salary
PROTECTIVE CLOTHING
To be provided by the Institution
ALLOWANCE TO PURCHASE MEANS OF TRANSPORT
Per existing regulations
SALARY ADVANCE
Two (2) months gross salary to be recovered in twelve (12) monthly instalments
SPECIAL ADVANCE
Two (2) months’ salary advance to be recovered after two (2) months grace period and shall be spread over a period not exceeding twenty-four (24) months.
TRANSFER GRANT/PERMANENT
POSTING ALLOWANCE RENT ADVANCE
Three (3) months’ basic salary
RENT ADVANCE
Not exceeding the employee’s basic Annual Salary
ADVANCE FOR THE PURCHASE OF DURABLE HOUSEHOLD GOODS
A loan not exceeding 150% of an employee’s annual gross salary to be repaid in not more than eighty-four (B4) equal installments.
ADDITIONAL DUTY ALLOWANCE
10% of the monthly basic salary
ALLOWANCE FOR DIRECTORS
1. Applicable Category 4 Allowances to be paid
CONTINUOUS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT (CPD)
1. Professional Teachers-GH¢1200.00
2. Non-Professional Teachers- GH¢800.00
MEDICAL CARE
1. Employee, spouse and four children of 18 years and below to be covered by NHIS.
2. Payment of 50% of the cost of management of illness not covered by NHIS.
3. Where a child is above 18 but below 23 years and is still in school, he or she shall be covered by a Medical Scheme.
READ: SHSs face food shortages, but government downplays the situation
DEATH BENEFITS
1. Employee – GH¢2,100.00
2. Spouse GH¢1,400.00
3. Child – GH¢1,400.00 (All inclusive)
TRAVELLING EXPENSE ALLOWANCE
Seven (7) tonnes at STC rate or any transport company appointed by the Government
PHYSICALLY CHALLENGED GUIDE
Daily Minimum Wage for 27 days
PHYSICALLY CHALLENGED TRANSPORT
Transport 20% of monthly basics
Are the Teacher Unions aware of these? Yes, they are aware of the COLA and All Allowances Ghanaian Teachers Are Supposed To Enjoy.