Cancellation of end of service benefits unfair – Dep. CHRAJ Commissioner
Mr Richard Quayson, Deputy Commissioner of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), has described as unfair the failure of government to pay end of service benefits to staff of public institutions that do not generate revenue.
He said such a practice was unjust saying all public sector workers performed specific functions, which were complementary for the collective development of the country and must enjoy an equal share of the national cake.
Mr Quayson said this during the opening of a three-day fourth National Bi-annual Delegates Congress of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice Staff Association (CHRAJSA) in Tamale on Wednesday.
The congress, being attended by CHRAJSA representatives from all the 10 regions, is to elect new national executives as well as discuss other issues relevant to the welfare of members of the Association.
Mr Quayson argued that “an institution is established for specific purposes and once it is fulfilling those purposes, its workers must be entitled to all benefits.”
Over two decades ago, government froze payment of end of service benefits to all public sector workers but recently it (government) permitted public institutions that generated substantial revenue could pay end of service benefits to their staff members.
This means that a large chunk of public sector workers who belong to institutions that do not generate revenue including CHRAJ would only survive on their pension contributions without end of service benefits.
Mr Quayson, whose argument was a response to a question, said “if we (CHRAJ) were established to generate revenue, we would be exceeding our targets” adding that the enjoyment of end of service benefits must not be dependent on which institutions workers found themselves.
He said CHRAJ was engaging government to see how best to resolve the situation.
He also told CHRAJSA that Management of CHRAJ had developed a training policy to guide staff development in terms of further studies and asked them to consult the policy in that regard.
Mr Michael Nkansah, Director in-charge of Gender at CHRAJ, who is also President of CHRAJSA assured members that the executives would continue to work to better champion their interest
Source: GNA