NLC gives ruling on Ghana Medical Association’s compulsory arbitration process

The National Labour Commission (NLC) on Friday gave its ruling on the compulsory arbitration process between the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) and the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC).

The report delivered to the GMA at the Association’s Annual General Conference is yet to be studied by the GMA, according to the Association.

Speaking to the Ghana News in a telephone interview, Dr kwabena Opoku Adusei, Current President of GMA, said though the report has been given to members, the Executive were yet to study it.

“We have just ended our 53rd Annual General Conference and we will be studying the report and give a response appropriately”.

The National Labour Commission (NLC) is meanwhile expected to give its ruling next week on differences in negotiations between the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) and the Ghana Medical Association as far as doctors’ migration on the new pay policy is concerned.

Doctors in Ghana embarked on a strike action on October 7, complaining of distortions in the grading structures of the Single Spine Salary Structure (SSSS), issues of unscientific determination of market premium and inducement by the FWSC.

Other concerns raised by the GMA were the inability of the FWSC to provide unequivocal evidence of migration of doctors onto the SSSS and the ambiguous stance of the SSSS Secretariat on the positions of District Directors of Health Service and Medical Superintendents.

The inability of the GMA and the FWSC to agree in solving the issues compelled the FWSC to refer the issue to NLC to apply the compulsory arbitration as provided for under Section 162 of the Labour Act to resolve the dispute.

The strike which lasted for three weeks was called off the strike on October 26 after countless appeals by the well meaning groups including Ghana Peace Council, Christian and Moslem groups across the country.

Source: GNA