Accra: Organised Labour is demanding a transparent and inclusive process in the planned transition from the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) to the proposed Independent Public Emoluments Commission (IPEC).
According to Ghana Web, the Trades Union Congress (TUC) emphasized the need for workers to be assured that commitments made during consultations on the new institution will translate into concrete policies and decisions.
TUC Secretary-General, Joshua Ansah, highlighted this during a two-day stakeholder engagement involving government, organised labour, and other stakeholders to discuss the draft framework for establishing IPEC. Ansah stated that organised labour would closely monitor the transition and hold the government accountable for commitments made during the consultations.
He indicated that while organised labour remained committed to constructive engagement, it would insist on accountability to protect the interests of workers and the wider public sector. Meanwhile, the Minister for Labour, Jobs and Employment, Dr Abdul-Rashid Hassan Pelpuo, described the transition as an opportunity to reform Ghana's system for determining public sector pay and allowances.
Dr Pelpuo asserted that the proposed commission must operate on principles of fairness, independence, transparency, accountability, and consistency, while ensuring that workers' welfare is balanced with the country's fiscal limitations. He encouraged stakeholders to use the consultation process to address difficult issues and offer practical proposals before finalizing the framework.
Additionally, the Chief Executive Officer of the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission, Dr George Smith Graham, remarked that robust debate and disagreements would be necessary to establish an institution capable of addressing Ghana's longstanding compensation challenges. He noted that although the country's public sector pay system had evolved, challenges remained regarding allowances, differences in remuneration among occupational groups, attracting and retaining skilled professionals, and linking compensation to productivity.
Dr Graham emphasized that the proposed IPEC must be guided by fairness, equity, transparency, independence, productivity, accountability, and social dialogue. He added that the new institution would need to balance providing fair remuneration to public sector workers, maintaining fiscal sustainability, and ensuring value for money and improved public service delivery.
The stakeholder consultations are part of efforts to shape the proposed framework for IPEC before completing the transition from the existing FWSC.