The Fair Wages & Salaries Commission (FWSC) has reported saving Ghana “a significant amount of GH¢345 million”.

According to the FWSC CEO, Ing Benjamin Arthur, the commission achieved the feat via the Nationwide Payroll Monitoring exercise which identified and cleared unauthorised names out of the national payroll.

Ing Arthur was responding to questions at a press soiree on Monday, November 25.

Apart from emphasising the need for a constitutional review to make FWSC an independent body responsible for government payroll policy which covers emoluments and benefits of all public officials including Article 71 office holders, he, also, used the opportunity to share with the media the following significant strides the Commission had made since 2014.

1. Successful Implementation of the Single Spine Salary Structure (SSSS): We have harmonised public service salaries, worked efficiently towards eliminating disparities and ensuring fairness.

2. Completed Negotiations and Signed Agreements: From the beginning of this year to date, we have completed and signed negotiation agreements with 44 unions and institutions.

3. Migration to New Grade Structure: The Commission has successfully migrated seven institutions to the new grade structure.

4. Linking Pay to Performance: We are working with stakeholders to link pay to productivity and have so far sensitised nine (9) institutions.

5. Payroll Monitoring: Through the Nationwide Payroll Monitoring exercise we saved the country a significant amount of GH¢345 million.

He commended whistle-blowers for their crucial role in uncovering irregularities in the public sector.

He said, that despite the above achievements, the commission faced challenges on the labour front due to the circumstances of 2024 being an election year.

He underlined there had been 14 industrial actions by labour unions within the year yet the commission managed to ensure these were called off.

However, he was quick to add the commission would continue to engage with unions and stakeholders to address concerns and promote peaceful labour relations.