Labour calls on Government to restore End of Service
Benefit scheme immediately
By Masahudu Ankiilu Kunateh, Ghanadot
Accra, July 23, Ghanadot - The
Tema District Council of Labour in the Greater Accra Region
of Ghana has called on the government as a matter of urgency
to restore the End of Service Benefit (ESB) scheme of
workers immediately.
In a resolution adopted at its regular general meeting in
Tema, made available to the media, the council noted
salaries and wages were too low for workers to plan their
settlement after exit from service.
In spite of this, the council said, "Government deemed it
fit to freeze the workers' ESB, but found it expedient to
pay its Ministers, Parliamentarians, District Chief
Executives and other office bearers and functionaries’
ex-gratia awards which is ESB in disguise at the end of each
four-year term of office".
"Office bearers and people holding managerial position
permitted to replace their vehicles at short interval (every
four years) and therefore have the chance to pun chase these
vehicles at ridiculously low prices," it noted.
According to the resolution public officials in
well-furnished bungalows were also allowed to purchase
household item such as refrigerators and cooking utensils at
very low price.
The council viewed all these arrangements as a design to
reward such officers at the end of their services, “which in
most cases are shorter than the workers” length of service".
"In the interest of fairness, justice and equity, the
council is calling for the restoration of the ESB without
any further delay.”
The council resolved, therefore, that government should
raise the tax threshold on worker’s income, devise workable
strategies to expand the tax net to rope in self-styled
businessman and women as well as other defaulters.
It called on government to waive the tax on overtime and
other incentives and act swiftly on the concerns it has
raised, preferably, within 21 days which would be the date
for its next meeting.
The Secretary-General of the Trades Union Congress (TUC),
Mr. Kofi Asamoah called on the Internal Revenue Service to
develop innovative ways to widen the tax net.
He advised workers and their leaders to cross check on
regular basis, from the Accounts Offices of their respective
work places operative tax sheets.
Ghanadot
