GRi Newsreel 04 - 11 - 99

Help create congenial atmosphere -Alhaji Mumuni

Accra (Greater Accra), 4^th November 99

Alhaji Muhammad Mumuni, Minister of Employment and Social Welfare, said on Wednesday that the nation has come face to face with the realities of a globalised economy, which calls for a peaceful industrial atmosphere to make for development.

It is, therefore, necessary for workers, employers and the government to come to terms with the imperatives of the situation and collaborate in the spirit of bi-partisan and tri-partisan relations to resolve all disputes and differences.

In a broadcast to the nation in Accra, Alhaji Mumuni said these should be done in a manner to avoid tension, strikes, lockouts and productivity loss.

The Minister said the government appreciates the difficulties facing the average Ghanaian worker and " would support any measures to improve the standard of living of our working people.

"At a time like this, when the external economic and financial environment is unfriendly, the least we can do as a country to help ourselves is to create a stable labour environment, moderate wage demands and increase productivity".

Instead, Alhaji Mumuni said, there has been threats by labour groups -unions and associations alike- with divergent reasons and sometimes conflicting demands, which create a rather tense labour environment.

Alhaji Mumuni said these have heightened since the formal announcement of the visit of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II to Ghana.

Some labour groups intend presenting resolutions to the Queen over demand for tax waver on bonus and overtime allowances, while workers of a factory in Tema, where the Duke of Edinburgh is scheduled to visit have started wearing red bands.

It is to back their demand for higher wages when negotiations under collective bargaining agreement (CBA) is already in progress and the pattern of issuing threats is as if to intimidate partners with whom they are negotiating.

Alhaji Mumuni said the practice is a flagrant violation of both national and international labour laws and procedures.

One effect is that it has created an erroneous impression that the government or management's only give in to workers' demands when threatened with strike action.

As at September 30, this year, there had been 35 strikes out of which 23 occurred in the private sector and the rest in the public sector.

The strikes are traceable largely to the process of implementation of the Ghana Universal Salary Structure (GUSS), otherwise called Price Waterhouse and the problems that have arisen.

The GUSS, he said, seeks to create a level playing field with regard to emolument for workers in the public service and to be implemented as a medium to long term policy.

GRi

Return to top

Minister orders Central Management Board to enter negotiations

Accra (Greater Accra), 4^th November 99

The government, in response to demands for upward adjustment in salary levels, has directed the Central Management Board to enter into negotiations with the Joint Consultative Forum and others beginning early December.

Alhaji Muhammad Mumuni, Minister of Employment and Social Welfare, said this in a broadcast to the nation on Wednesday.

He said, that from the standpoint of the Joint Consultative Forum, the alternative to the immediate upward adjustment in salary levels within the Ghana Universal Salary Structure (GUSS) is the provision of a cost of living allowance (COLA).

The Minister said ad-hoc measures employed in previous salary administrations contributed immensely to salary distortions and disparities, which are now confronting the nation, saying that one of such measures was the COLA.

"At this point in time, when the focus on salary administration is equity remuneration, any attempt to introduce COLA would undermine the rationalisation policy and take us back to square one."

He said it is the government's policy to utilise the bargaining machinery in addressing issues concerning conditions of service of workers, adding that, demands for new allowances should be tabled for negotiations.

Alhaji Mumuni said the re-introduction of vehicle maintenance allowance, fuel and overtime allowances as well as house-help/domestic servant allowance as re-imbursables, on the other hand, demonstrates the governments' readiness to dialogue on issues emanating from the implementation of the GUSS.

Discussion and resolution of petitions or misgivings arising out of the implementation of the new wage policy without reference to the appellate body, duly set up for the purpose, would eventually render it ineffective.

Alhaji Mumuni said he hoped the new wage policy should be seen as a medium to long term salaries and wages policy, and all the aims and objectives could not be realised immediately.

He reacted to new demands saying that there would be problems in bringing all public sector institutions, which are not on the Controller's pay roll but subsist on the Consolidated Fund on the GUSS.

He said it would contradict with the cabinet directive for a gradual phased approach to the application of the new wage policy and the increases involved may not easily be absorbed by the budget.

In addition, it would not be acceptable to organisations with collective bargaining certificates, which insist on using the negotiation process.

Alhaji Mumuni said the government could not bridge the gap between the salaries of comparable job positions in the public service immediately adding " this cannot be achieved overnight.

"The catching up process is indeed implicit in the concept of grand fathering", he said and urged all stakeholders to use established channels of communication to handle grievances.

Strikes and threats of strikes may only put pressure on the government to adopt ad-hoc measures, which in the end will not only undermine the policy but also worsen the general economic situation.

He said a second look must be taken at the habit of wearing red armbands and all should seek to create an environment that "will enable us to sit down, talk the problems over and find the right and lasting solutions to them".

GRi

Return to top

Alabi urges chiefs to increase commitment to peace in Northern Region

Tamale (Northern Region), 4^th November 99

Mr. Joshua Alabi, Northern Regional Minister, has appealed to chiefs in the region to re-affirm their commitment to the peace process after the recent ethnic conflicts.

He explained at the general meeting of the Regional House of Chiefs in Tamale on Wednesday that even though the region has achieved a measure of peace and reconciliation, the process has been cumbersome and time consuming.

In a speech read for him, Mr. Alabi referred to the sacrifices and compromises some of the chiefs had made in the interest of peace.

"At least peace has brought us the much needed stability to pursue development projects and programmes designed to improve the well-being of our people."

But he cautioned against the tendency to be complacent since it could be a source of failure.

Mr. Alabi said the government and people continue to look up to chiefs for the kind of leadership that would strengthen the bond of unity and promote rapid development. They must therefore avoid litigation and petty squabbles that tend to undermine their authority as well as peace in the region.

Mr. Alabi drew the attention of the House to the issue of land management, which he said has become a source of concern to the government.

He said land issues in the region have for a long time been taken for granted but added that with the growing importance of land management the time had come for the issue to be reconsidered.

Fortunately, the government has responded to these concerns by formulating a new land policy, he said, and urged the chiefs to acquaint themselves with the policy so that land could be put to the best use without unnecessary litigations.

Other areas of concern, which Mr Alabi implored the chiefs to support, are environmental degradation, tourism development, the continued presence of alien herdsmen and the widespread illiteracy.

GRi

Return to top

Six organisations donate towards Farmers Day

Accra (Greater Accra), 4^th November 99

Six organisations on Wednesday presented various items and cheques totalling 26.1 million cedis to the Ministry of Food and Agriculture as their contribution towards this year's national farmers day celebration, which falls on December 3.

The organisations include, the Agricultural Development Bank, which donated outboard motors worth 5.9 million cedis, fishing net at 460,000 cedis, two sprayers valued at 450,000 cedis and two boxes of crocodile brand machetes at 660,000 cedis.

In addition, the Bank will organise a welcoming cocktail party for the awards winners at a cost of 12.1 million cedis.

Ghana Cylinder Manufacturing Company donated 30 LPG cylinders and one million cedis and the Department of National Lotteries, two million cedis.

Space Phone presented one million cedis whilst Ghacem donated 200 bags of cement and a cheque for 500,000 cedis.

Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority gave a cheque for two million cedis and will host a luncheon for the winners.

Mr. Clement Bugase, a Deputy Minister of Agriculture who received the items said farmers would draw inspiration through the donations and provide good food and agricultural raw materials for the nation.

The theme for this year's celebration is "effective marketing promotes agricultural production".

GRi

Return to top