Government has described as false news report claiming that government has agreed to pay members of the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) 50% of their basic salary as Professional Allowance.
Alexander Segbefia, Minister for Health, in a statement, said as was stated in an earlier statement by the Minister for Employment and Labour Relations, the Public Services Joint Standing Negotiating Committee (PSJSNC) is already involved in a universal discussion of Category 2 & 3 allowances.
He noted that the Ho Forum had agreed that the implementation of these allowances be deferred until all public sector workers have been migrated onto the Single Spine Salary Structure.
He explained that a number of demands contained in the GMA’s proposal fall under Category 2 & 3 and can, therefore, not be discussed between the government and the GMA alone.
“Government wishes to restate that the negotiation of such allowances at the level of the PSJSNC is not negotiable.
“Any action to the contrary will seriously destroy the successful implementation of the Single Spine Pay Policy, which has, and continues to have, huge financial implications for the taxpayer.
“We have remained committed to the negotiation process with the GMA and Organised Labour with the view to ensuring a harmonious and productive working environment in Ghana,” he said.
“This commitment underpins the latest meeting with the Ghana Medical Association, which took place today, Sunday August 09, 2015.
“Government wishes to remind the GMA that the ongoing strike is a violation of the Labour Act of 2003, (Act 651), which requires that parties to negotiation should not embark on lockout or strike,” the Minister stated.
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