Aggrieved public sector workers protest over 4 and 7% base pay increase

Listen to this article Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Some aggrieved public sector workers are demonstrating to register their displeasure over what they describe as poor conditions of service.

They are against the 4% and 7% base pay increase proposed by the government for public sector workers for 2021 and 2022 respectively.

In addition, the national minimum wage was increased by 6 percent for 2021 and 8 percent for 2022.

The group wants public sector salaries to be increased by 25% instead.

The protest began from the Obra Spot in Accra, and it is expected to end at Independence Square.

The leader of the group, Norbert Gborgbortsi, said, “no one was sponsored to be here. We all came here because we are aggrieved. This is just to show the government that we have the numbers. This is just the beginning. If the government does not respond to our petition earlier presented with the week, they will hear more of us.”

A protester who claimed he joined from the Upper East Region, Ishmael Twum, insisted that they are not going to settle for any excuse from the government.

“The four percent increment is about GHS20 to GHS40. What can this do for us? How can they improve on the conditions of service of Article 71 holders and leave us behind.”

“Government cannot pin this unfair treatment on the current economic conditions. In which country are the Article 71 holders?” he quizzed.

TUC urges calm amid agitation over base pay increase for 2021 and 2022

The Trades Union Congress has urged unions upset with the base pay increments for public sector workers for 2021 and 2022 to exerciser restraint.

At a press conference by Organised Labour on July 26, 2021, Secretary-General of the Trades Union Congress, Dr. Yaw Baah, said the base pay increase of 4 percent for 2021 and 7 percent for 2022 could have been worse.

By: Kwaku Aduamah Ansah