Thursday, June 5, 2008

Fair Wage and Salaries Commission to submit its final report on July 31


The Fair Wages and Salaries Commission set up by the NPP government is to submit its final report on the new single spine salary structure on July 31.The previous pay reform initiatives experienced a major setback due to the absence of a legally mandated institution with definite responsibility for everything related to payissues across the public sector.

Disclosing this at a Bi-annual Joint Steering Committee meeting with donors partners to afford various stakeholders the opportunuity to share experience on implimentation of the reform agenda,the consultants Mrs. Victoria Cooper-Enchia, who is also the president of CoEn Consulting, said a framework had been developed in that regard to manage and coordinate all negotiations to ensure that decisions were implemented on all matters relating to salaries, wages, grading, classification and conditions of service.Other areas are job analysis and job evaluation, performance management and indicators, allowance and benefits across the public sector. Employees from all public sector institutions paid from the consolidated fund would be included on the structure.


On job analysis, Mrs. Cooper-Enchia noted that internal equity was a pillar for compensation in any structure. The Commission has recommended that allowances related to normal duties, responsibilities and requirements of a job be discussed and agreed separately.


Mr. Samuel Owusu-Agyei, Minister of Public Sector Reform, contributing to the discusion hinted that the government of Ghana recognizes the allocation of additional funds for public sector reform to the tune of 10 million dollars as an indication of the World Bank trust.He said government remained committed to the implementation of recommded pay policies but acknowledged the need to move in phases to avoid overrunning of national budget. "Significant progress has been achieved in the delivery of training programmes, specifically designed for the leadership of the Civil Service," he said, adding that, 400 top civil servants had already participated in the accelerated training programme at GIMPA.

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