President Akufo-Addo has allayed fears of public sector workers that government will freeze their salary increase.
Addressing the 11th quadrennial delegates congress of the Trades Union Congress, TUC at Abrankro in the Ejisu Municipality of Ashanti, the President said salary increments for public sector workers have not been frozen.
He made the clarification in response to concerns raised by the Secretary-General of the TUC, Dr. Anthony Yaw Baah, that if government took the advice of the Technical Advisor to the Ministry of Finance, Dr Samuel Nii Noi Ashong that there would be no salary increment, it could lead to serious agitations on the labour front.
Last Wednesday, Dr. Ashong appealed to public sector workers to be moderate in their demand for huge rise in wages in the coming years. Speaking at the opening of a virtual seminar on the 2021 Budget and Economic Policy statement, Dr. Ashong said government does not have enough money in its coffers to meet demands for pay increment, hence the need for public sector workers to be modest in their demands going forward.
President Akufo-Addo acknowledged that the 2021 Budget statement and Economy Policy of government that has been approved by parliament appears to contain some difficulties, but very necessary causes of actions.
Consequently, he said the time has come for the country to take the next step of action required for the sustained recovery of the economy following the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
