National Tripartite Committee begins 2016 minimum wage negotiations
The National Tripartite Committee has begun the process for the determination and negotiation of the minimum daily wage for 2016.
Mr Haruna Iddrisu, Minister of Employment and Labour Relations, who announced this to the media in Accra, said the Committee, which is made up of Government, National employers Association and Organised Labour, are working towards an early conclusion of the process.
This, he said, is to allow for effective planning by the Ministry of Finance and to enable the sector Minister to incorporate it in his 2016 budget estimates to Parliament for approval of the Appropriation and Fiscal policy of government for 2016.
Speaking after the meeting of the Committee on Friday, Mr Iddrisu said a technical committee has been put in place to work the determination of the minimum daily wage and is expected to present its report to the Committee on July 7.
All parties would however receive copies of the report by July 6.
He reiterated that government and all other parties in the negotiations are committed to conclude the entire process by September 30.
He said his ministry has forwarded to the Ministry of Finance, a concern raised by organised labour on the pace at which Government is working on the fixing of the tax threshold, a concern which he noted is legitimate.
Government, at the meeting also proposed a housing scheme for public sector workers.
The Committee is expected to develop a concept paper on how best to provide affordable housing for the public sector since accommodation remains a major concern for workers, with a majority spending most part of their earnings on it.
Mr Iddrisu said a committee would be put in place to oversee the development of the concept paper.
He also revealed that Government has reached an understanding with the, Union of Industry and Commerce and Finance Workers Union in the agricultural development bank (adb) saga, to suspend its intended industrial action while the state address their concerns.
He said to this end, he would, on Monday June 23 June, meet parties in the matter, including management of the bank and UNICOF, to sign a memorandum of understanding and to discuss the issues raised including the Initial Public Offer, and allegations of financial malfeasance, among others.
Source: GNA