Mr John Yaw Amankrah, Labour Market Consultant, has called on organised labour, to re-engage government on Living Wage negotiations being pursued by the National Tripartite Committee to relief workers from the harsh economic conditions.
He said a large number of the workforce within public sector and public service are living below the poverty line of one dollar a day, and as at 2008 the figure was 8.6 percent, and even though he had not secured that of 2013, the condition might not be appreciated.
Mr Amankrah was presenting a 64-page Report from a study on Public Sector pay in Ghana for validation by the regional executive of Teachers? and Educational Workers Union (TEWU), drawn from tertiary institutions and polytechnics.
The research initiated by TEWU, and which made a comparative analysis of salaries in the educational sector and other sectors in the public service, was sponsored by the Pan African Teachers? Centre (PATC) which provided the technical advice, with the Canadian Teachers? Federation (CTF) providing about 26,500 dollars.
He said data provided from the study revealed the extent and magnitude of inequalities and low salaries within the educational sector, especially when the average age, qualification and work experience of the workers were taken into account.
Mr Ankrah said disparities were unfair, saying, ?for instance,The Director-General;s pay in the health service is greater than his counterpart in the Ghana Education Service, and the research is an eye opener for union leaders to find their bearings?.
Mr Peter Mabande, Executive Director of African Region (PATC) commended the efforts of the researchers for their hard work, and called on the validators to make constructive criticism to help improve the report,
He said ?TEWU and Stakeholders must use the report wisely, and not to leave the final report on the shelve to gather dust?.
Mr Ralph Apayaa, General Secretary of TEWU, commended his predecessors for initiating the report, and said the current
leadership would use the final report to the advantage of union members.
He observed that the report would make union be in a good frame of mind
To negotiate effectively, saying that, the final report would be good for all stakeholders, students, decision makers, researchers and heads of departments, to mention few.
GNA
