Reliable information reaching Ghana Education News (GEN) indicates that organized labour representatives have suggested a 50% salary increase. The on going negotiations between Organized Labour and the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) is expected to be completed by the end of August.

However, the (FWSC) has called on organized labour to soften their stands and beat down their demand for at least 50% increase in wages and salaries for public sector workers. It has also called on labour unions to be moderate in their expectations.

The government through the (FWSC) and organized labour reached a 10 percent salary increase for over 700,000 public sector workers under the Single Spine Salary Structure for the 2025 working year.

This 10% increase was approved on after the President of Ghana John Dramani Mahama met the committee deliberating with salary increase for 2025. However, the increment was met with dissatisfaction from organized labour, who described it as woefully inadequate.

Currently, pressure has been mounted for a more significant adjustment of salaries. Our sources has confirmed that organized labour is demanding more than 50 percent increase.

Fresh minimum wage negotiations are expected to start as a result of the new development. Dr. Smith Graham, the Chief Executive Officer of the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission has called on labour unions to be considerate.

“So, we will negotiate and come to a consensus so labour can come with whatever proposal. You are mentioning 50 percent, labour has not proposed any such thing to us so as far as we are concerned, we are going to negotiate and what we come out with the consensus will be what we go with. By the close of the month, we should be able to conclude,” Dr Graham said.

To keep tempers calm and negotiations within manageable expectations, Minister of Labour, Jobs and Employment, Dr. Rashid Pelpuo, has called on labour unions to be calm, encouraging unions to consider the broader economic implications during salary negotiations.

“We know that the time is getting closer, we need to do it before January even before December. We are eager to make sure we take all issues under considerations that have direct impact on labour earnings. Taking all into consideration, what has the cedi done of late? What has inflation done of late? What is the total cost of living is it affecting them so much so that what they earn today will not be equal to what they will earn next year. We will take all that into consideration and negotiate,” Dr Pelpuo explained.

Meanwhile, the conversation around pay disparities continues to dominate the labour space, with renewed calls for the establishment of an Emoluments Commission.

According to Dr. Smith Graham, the Commission, once set up, could be the long-term solution to Ghana’s persistent wage-related disputes.

“The labour agitations are based on the inequities that exist. These ones we are resolving them on a daily basis, every single day we resolve one issue or the other so we will continue resolving the issues as we move on to the implementation of the independent emolument commission,” he said.

“It is not something that is going to take too long, we hope to conclude the Independent Emolument Commission as early as possible so that we can bring on board a holitistic review of the Single Spine Salary Structure,” he added.

Dr Graham further noted that, “the Independent Emolument Commission will help address all labour agitations. The fact that it is going to be a constitutional body is a very important thing. If you have constitutional body, it takes away some of the influences that are likely to come outside the mainstream negotiations and again because Article 71 is coming on board. Nobody can complain that the Article 71 office holders are being cheated than all the public servants”.

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In a related development, the Minister for Labour has inaugurated a new board for the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission. The board is expected to help streamline engagement between government and labour, ensuring a more collaborative and transparent process.