Accra, Sept. 22, GNA - The Fair Wages and Salary Commission on Tuesday assured stakeholders that all was on course for the take off of the single spine salary structure in January 2010. Speaking at a stakeholders meeting, the Chief Executive Officer of the Commission, George Smith-Graham said the roadmap for implementation was being followed religiously in order not to miss the January 2010 target date for introduction.

The single spine salary structure seeks to promote fairness and equity in public sector pay and salary administration. Mr Smith-Graham said the Commission with a team of dedicated workers was determined to deliver on their mandate to enhance performance within the public services. He lauded government and the technical committee's commitment to the process and assured stakeholders that their concerns would be addressed through dialogue.

Mr Kofi Asamoah, Secretary General of Ghana Trades Union Congress, said workers were monitoring the implementation of key elements of the roadmap with the hope that government would adhere to the January target. He urged government to provide the appropriate mandate to the FWSC as a primary negotiator and called for the establishment of an appellate body to which the unions and associations could channel their complaints for redress. Mr Asamoah expressed the hope that all outstanding issues in the roadmap would be dealt with expeditiously to allow early completion of the process.

Mr Stephen Amoanor-Kwao, Minister of Employment and Social Welfare, reiterated government's commitment to the roadmap, saying that Cabinet had already held discussions on a memorandum presented by the technical team and returned to the Commission for fine tuning with the financial implications for government. 22 Sept. 09