The National Daily Minimum Wage, based on twenty-seven working days has been increased by seventeen per cent (17%) from GHC 4.48 to GHC5.24, with effect from 1st May, 2013. The Base Pay for Public Sector workers has also been increased by ten per cent (10%) from GHC 4.84 to5.32 with effect from 1st January 2013. The month for commencement of payment is September 2013.

These were announced by Nii Armah Ashietey, Minister for Employment and Labour Relations during the National Tripartite (NTC) Committee meeting held on Thursday.

He said the payment of the arrears for the period January to August 2013 was being discussed at the on-going meeting of the Public Services Joint Standing Negotiating Committee (PSJSNC).

The Minister who is also Member of Parliament for Klottey-Korle Constituency, said in determining the wage, the Social Partners took into consideration the previous minimum wage, the projected rate of inflation for 2013, and the growth in the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

“The National Minimum Wage, as most people know, is the daily wage below which no employer in Ghana is allowed to pay his or her employees”, he said.

The Minister said the NTC meeting would discuss pertinent and crucial issues which would affect workers, such as the aftermath of the National forum on the Sustainability of the Single Spine Pay Policy (SSPP), workers’ pensions, the national economy, the industrial relations climate and labour agitations, international labour standards, and the informal economy.

Nii Ashietey commended Ghanaians for contributing to the maintenance of peace and harmony in the country in the face of internal challenges, as well as the global economic crunch which most countries are facing currently.

He also commended the leadership of labour for showing maturity, understanding and patience, specially over the delay in the determination of the 2013 Base Pay.

The leadership of Organised Labour, the Ghana Employers Association and the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) appealed to the Government, to as a matter of urgency, iron out all the issues surrounding the New Pension Scheme.

They have also called for a National Blue Print which should transcend the various political parties, saying that their manifestos should be geared towards the achievement of the national vision.

The leaders also appealed to the Government to hold accountable its officials whose actions and inactions result in the numerous strikes and labour agitations in the country.