Labour Seeks Seat at Table in IPEC Pay Reforms, Demanding Transparency

The Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) held a two-day stakeholder engagement with organised labour to gather views on the proposed legislation for the Independent Public Emoluments Commission (IPEC). The meeting, which was aimed at incorporating labour's views into the draft IPEC Bill, saw the Chief Executive of the FWSC, Dr George Smith-Graham, stress the importance of labour's participation in shaping the proposed legislation.

Labour Seeks Continuous Involvement in IPEC Reforms

Organised labour has expressed support for the proposed IPEC, while calling for its continuous involvement in the process of establishing the new public sector compensation body. The Secretary-General of the Trades Union Congress (TUC), Joshua Ansah, gave the assurance on behalf of organised labour, saying labour would monitor the process and provide inputs to help ensure that the proposed commission achieved its intended objectives.

The proposed commission is expected to provide a new framework for determining and managing public sector compensation, with emphasis on fairness, transparency, and fiscal sustainability. The engagement brought together more than 50 labour organisations, including the TUC, Ghana Federation of Labour (GFL), Civil and Local Government Staff Association, Ghana (CLOGSAG), University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG), and Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA).

TUC Demands Full Participation in IPEC Process

The TUC has called for a comprehensive review of public sector pay reforms, urging the government to maintain the involvement of organised labour throughout the process. Mr. Ansah cautioned the government against adopting a fragmented approach to public sector pay reforms, saying continuous participation would help build broader ownership of the new system. "We don't want a piecemeal approach," he stated. "It should be holistic so that what is good for the goose is also good for the gander."

The proposed commission is expected to represent a fundamental change in public sector compensation management rather than merely a change of name, according to Dr. Smith-Graham. He cited challenges that had emerged under the Single Spine Pay Policy and said lessons from the policy should inform the development of the new system. "IPEC should represent the next generation of public compensation governance," he stated.

Organised Labour Pledges Support for IPEC

Organised labour has pledged to support the establishment of IPEC and participate actively in the development of the proposed compensation framework. The engagement is expected to contribute to the drafting of the IPEC Bill before it is presented to Parliament for consideration. Dr. Smith-Graham stressed the importance of labour's participation in shaping the proposed legislation, saying the new compensation framework would have long-term implications for Ghana's public service and, therefore, needed to be designed with the future in mind.

The stakeholder engagement was aimed at incorporating the views of organised labour into the draft IPEC Bill, which will establish IPEC and repeal the existing Act 737, which governs the FWSC. The proposed commission is expected to provide a new framework for determining and managing public sector compensation, with emphasis on fairness, transparency, and fiscal sustainability.

The new compensation framework will have long-term implications for Ghana's public service, and it is crucial that it is designed with the future in mind. The engagement is expected to contribute to the drafting of the IPEC Bill before it is presented to Parliament for consideration.

Source: JOY