<<Print>>

The Minority in Parliament has described the 10% increment in the minimum wage as woefully inadequate.

The National Tripartite Committee last Thursday announced that the minimum wage had risen from 9.68 Ghana cedis to 10.65 Ghana cedis.

According to the Deputy Minority Spokesperson on Employment, Richard Quashigah, the raise, which amounts to 97 pesewas does not correspond with the harsh realities of the economy.

“I think that one will say something is better than nothing but the reality is that, that is not deep enough. What impact will it have on the economy of the ordinary person who will be affected by this and so it is a mixed feeling. It is as if nothing really has been added up to it.

“It does not amount to anything substantial especially at a time when we are not too sure whether there is an increase in taxes as in relation to straight levy with regards to NHIL and GETFund. If this should translate into a higher toll by way of taxes it means you are not putting any addition to what they are already earning but indirectly you are taking more from them.”

Minimum wage increment

The implementation of the wage increment is expected to take effect on 1st January 2019.

The decision was taken after a meeting held by the Tripartite Committee made up of government, Labour and the Employers Association.

A statement from the National Labour Commission said “the committee directs that any establishment, institution or organization whose Daily Minimum Wage is below the new National Daily Minimum wage should adjust its wages upward with effect from 1st January, 2019”.

The members who signed the statement from the committee were Minister for Employment and Labour Relations, Ignatius Baffuor Awuah, for government, Terence Darko for the Employers Association, and Dr. Yaw Baah for labour.

“Any establishment, institution or organization that flouts the new rate shall be sanctioned in accordance with law,” the statement warned.

By law, it is illegal for any worker in Ghana to be paid below the minimum wage.

The Committee had also expressed its commitment to the improvement of incomes and productivity in both public and private sectors of the Ghanaian economy.