Labour unions across the country have declared an indefinite strike.
The strike, which begins today, October 22, 2014, is as a result of government’s failure to pay the two tier contributions for the unions.
All members of the unions have been directed to stay away from their offices till further directives were issued.
The Ghana Medical Association, Ghana Physician Assistants Association, Health Services Worker’s Union, Government and Hospitals Pharmacist’s Association, Ghana Registered Nurses Association and the Ghana Association of Certified Registered Anesthetists have all joined the action.
The others are the Coalition of Concerned Teachers, Ghana National Association of Teachers, Teachers and Education Workers Union, National Association of Graduate Teachers, Judicial Services Staff Association of Ghana and the Civil and Local Government Staff Association of Ghana.
Speaking at a press conference on behalf of the labour unions in Accra, the acting General Secretary of the Health Services Workers’ Union, Reynolds Tenkorang said the unions had on several occasions complained to the President on the release of their pension funds, but all fell on deaf ears.
He added that they also petitioned the Parliamentary Select Committee on Employment, Social Welfare and State Enterprises but that also yielded no results.
He said; “we wish the press to also note that during the period, there have been countless meetings and interactions with the body mandated to oversee pensions in Ghana, that is the National Pensions Regulatory Authority.”
Employment and labour relations minister, Haruna Iddrisu
According to Reynolds Tenkorang, the first beneficiaries of the tier two pension scheme are supposed to receive their lump sum next year adding that “they are in the dark as to where to claim the second tier benefits.”
The Minister of Employment and Labour Relations, Haruna Iddrisu has said he was hoping for a quick resolution of the issue after a number of meetings with labour over the matter.
He said government was working hard to resolve their concerns.
Business World (with notes from citifmonline)