Koforidua (Eastern Region) - The Koforidua District Council of Labour has rejected the decision by the government to deduct two-and-half per cent of their monthly SSNIT contributions towards the implementation of the National Health Insurance Scheme.

It said the contributions were the "life blood of workers and therefore the government has no right to use it to execute its programmes without the consent of contributors." In a two-point resolution passed after its First Quarter meeting the KDCL cautioned, "if the deduction is carried out it is likely to disrupt the programmes and mechanisms put in place to enable the SSNIT pension scheme remain solid enough to pay benefits to contributors up till 2050 and beyond."

"If workers sentiments on this matter is not considered it will cut the scheme and its mechanism by 30 years which will not be in the best interest of workers," the resolution said.

On the on-going Gulf War involving the US and its coalition forces against Iraq, the KDCL described it as "an invasion of a sovereign state, a breach of United Nations Charter and disrespect to the world body," saying it joined "the peace loving people worldwide to appeal to the US and its allies to cease hostilities so as to prevent the destruction of innocent lives and property, especially women, children, the aged and the sick."

The KDCL expressed concern that the repercussion of the war could have "devastating effect on our economy, especially, in terms of the possible rise in the price of petroleum products."