Ho, March 21, GNA - Government has the authority to determine the implementation of the proposed single spine salary structure. Mr John Nii Otu Ankrah, Director of Finance and Budget of Civil Servants Association of Ghana (CSAG) announced this at a forum of Civil Servants in Ho. He said there were outstanding issues that must be ironed out with various categories of workers and professional groups to arrive at a mutually agreeable conclusion towards implementing the new salary structure.

Mr Ankrah pointed out that because of the problems associated with its implementation, CSAG objected to the 16 to 34 per cent increase in salaries announced by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Government. He said public service institutions had been divided into nine groups under the single spine structure which involved job description and job evaluation to determine job values based on technology, values and culture of the particular institution. Mr Ankrah said four main factors, knowledge and skills, work condition, effort and responsibility were the determinant factors on the structure.

On the implementation of the proposed three tier pension scheme, Mr Kodzo Krakani, Deputy Executive Secretary of CSAG said it would be implemented before the first quarter of 2009. He urged civil servants to patronise the voluntary aspect of the new pension scheme to enhance their pension benefits. Mr Krakani said the Education Financing Loan Scheme and a General Loan Scheme being developed would ensure a more dignified and less anxious working lives for civil servants. He explained that the education financing scheme would help them to finance their wards and children's education while the general loan fund would support other pressing and long term general necessities. Other issues discussed at the forum were progress on negotiations for the determination of a national minimum wage and payment of salary arrears to Civil Servants. 21 March 09