Organised labour urges Gov’t to halt Pensions Alliance Trust scheme
Organised Labour on Tuesday urged government to halt the implementation of the Pensions Alliance Trust (PAT) scheme.
Labour Unions declared their stand during a stakeholders’ forum on the status of implementation of the New Pension Scheme, organised by the National Pension Regulatory Authority (NPRA) in Accra.
Various labour union leaders under the umbrella of the Ghana Trades Union Congress expressed their dissatisfaction with government attempts to impose on them the Ghana Pension Alliance Trust as a second tier pension scheme for government workers.
This second tier occupational or work-based pension scheme is mandatory for all employees but privately managed and designed primarily to give contributors higher lump sum benefits than previously available under the Social Security and National Insurance Trust pension scheme.
Mrs Irene Duncan Adanusah, General Secretary of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) told the forum that GNAT was not a party to the PAT and urged government to desist from imposing it on them.
She said under the new pension scheme, workers were supposed to form their own tier two pension without any imposition from government.
Mr. J. N. O. Ankrah of the Civil and Local Government Staff Association, Ghana said organised labour was entirely against the idea of the imposition of PAT by the government; adding that, NPRA should as a matter of urgency advice government to put a stop to its implementation and allow organised labour to form their own tier two pension scheme.
Dr Justice Yamson of the Ghana Medical Association noted that labour was not in favour of the PAT and government should not be allowed to impose it on workers.
Madam Perpetual Ofori-Ampofo, General Secretary of the Ghana Registered Nurses Association (GRNA) said government was trying to impose the Corporate Trustee – Pensions Alliance Trust on health workers but they would not accept that move.
She said GRNA had formed the Health Sector Occupational Pension Scheme (a Master Trust Scheme) for all health workers with the exception of the doctors and the pharmacists.
Mr Kofi Asamoah, General Secretary of the Ghana Trades Union Congress said this year’s May Day Celebration would be dedicated to pension and urged organised labour to actively take part in it.
Mr Sam Pee Yalley, NPRA Chairman assured organised labour that their grievances would be presented to government.
Mr Fiifi Kwetey, Minister of Financial and Allied Institutions in the Office of the President assured organised labour that their concerns were well noted and his sector was ready to give audience to the NPRA.
He said the issues of pension were very critical since it affected everyone and that government would not toy with it.
Source: GNA