The Tema District Council of Labour (TDCL), has expressed shock at the minimum wage of 3,480 cedis an increase of 20 percent proposed by the government for workers.

The TDCL said it does not understand why the government should publish its proposal without first presenting it officially to the Trades Union Congress (TUC), and said this constitutes an attempt to stab the TUC in the back. A statement signed by Mr Wilson Agana, Chairman of the TDCL and Mr Mohammed Baba-Tairo, Secretary, recalled that the TDCL in a resolution adopted on July 20, this year demanded at least a daily minimum wage of 7,000 cedis. Later, its apex body, the TUC demanded a meagre minimum wage of 5,500 cedis and it did not therefore anticipate that the government will come out with a proposal of 3,480 cedis. The statement said in view of that the Council considers government to be insensitive to the plight of workers since students' daily feeding fee has now been pegged at 3,000 cedis.

It noted that galloping of the exchange rate, increase in VAT rate, frequent fuel price increases and the resultant high cost of living make the TUC proposal justifiable even though it fell below expectation. The TDCL therefore considered as unacceptable, the government's proposals and its justification and therefore urged the TUC to be steadfast in its position, adding that TDCL is ever ready to support it in the fight for a meaningful minimum wage for workers.