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10% wage increase not enough - Minority to govt

22nd February 2025 5:00:00 AM

2 mins read

The Minority has rejected the 10% salary adjustment for public sector employees, arguing that it does not adequately address the economic hardships workers face.

This revision was disclosed following deliberations between the Labour Union and President John Dramani Mahama on Thursday, February 20, 2024.

However, the Minority contends that the increase offers little relief to workers struggling with financial pressures.

Speaking in Parliament on Friday, February 21, Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin pointed to previous salary revisions to illustrate why the latest adjustment is insufficient.

“In 2017, public sector workers enjoyed a 12.5% increase in pay. In 2018, they enjoyed 11%, in 2020 there was a 15% increase, and in 2021 there was a 4% plus an interim premium of 15%. In 2022, there was a 15% Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) on the base salary.

“In 2023, there was a 30% increase, and in 2024, there was a 23% increase between January and June and 25% from July to December. Now, we are facing just a 10% increment. The leader of government business must take note and inform the President that these are the numbers he came to meet.

“The ordinary Ghanaian worker has a higher expectation in this 24-hour economy. They have a legitimate expectation that President Mahama will do better. The 10% is unacceptable.”

In a separate development, Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga applauded the Labour Union’s decision to accept the 10% wage adjustment, interpreting it as a vote of confidence in the National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration.

He maintained that the settlement signifies employees' approval of the government's financial approach and efforts to uplift their standard of living.

“The workers of this country, led by their leaders, gladly accepted the 10% increase. Accepting a 10% increment as against 25% is a vote of confidence in the leader because they have confidence that President John Mahama, when he collects the tax, will not be flying and bathing in the air,” he said.

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