Current
economic condition require commitment-President Mills
Kumasi, June 23, Ghanadot/GNA-
President John Atta Mills has said the current economic
condition of the country require that workers display high
level of commitment.
He has therefore urged them to appreciate the current
predicament in the midst of the global financial crunch but
expressed optimism the future would be bright despite such
difficulties.
The President said this in a speech read for him by Mr.
Stephen Amoanor Kwao, Minister of Employment and Social
Welfare, at the 50th Anniversary Celebration and the
inauguration of the second phase of a hostel project for the
Public Services Workers Union (PSWU) in Kumasi on Monday.
The project, made up of 27 self-contained rooms estimated at
two million Ghana cedis, include a 500 seating capacity
auditorium, a mini-supermarket, a unisex salon and offices.
The theme for the occasion was "PSWU 50 years in the Service
of Workers-The Way Forward".
President Atta-Mills said, his government was committed to
the agreed road map for implementation of the Single Spine
Salary Structure and was of the view that all stakeholders
involved would work hard towards the successful
implementation to improve salaries of workers.
On the New Pension Scheme for workers under the National
Pension Act 766 of 2008, he said negotiations were also far
advanced towards the implementation of the scheme to benefit
workers.
He appealed to the union to deepen the existing dialogue and
harmonize with other social partners to maintain a peaceful
industrial atmosphere for accelerated national development.
Mr. Kofi Asamoah, General Secretary of the Trades Union
Congress (TUC), said the ongoing Public Sector Reform was
intended to address the challenges of low pay and the
inequities inherent in the public sector pay.
He therefore urged the government to keep to the
implementation schedules and the guiding principles and the
road map it has agreed with unions and other stakeholders.
The General Secretary asked the government "not to see the
patience of the Unions, which has contributed to the current
industrial relations atmosphere as a sign of weakness, but
rather a demonstration of good faith and our preparedness to
co-operate with the government".
Mr. Asamoah expressed concern about the recent increase of
30 per cent in fuel prices as compared to 18 per cent
increase in wages and called on the government to increase
the incomes of workers to enable them cope with the
increasing higher cost of living.
Mr. A.T.D Okine, General Secretary of the PSWU, expressed
gratitude and appreciation to the pioneering patriots, both
living and dead for their good judgment and selflessness
towards the formation of the union.
He said there had been significant improvement in the
conditions of workers of the various branches of the union
and this had been made possible through the union's pro
activeness and negotiations with government and management.
Ms. Georgina Owusu Amankwaa, National Chairperson of the
Union, advised her colleagues to adopt effective and
pragmatic measures to improve their performance in the years
ahead.
GNA
