Accra, June 21, GNA - Mr George Smith-Graham, Chief Executive Officer of Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC), on Monday said the 10 per cent increase in workers salaries across board was part of the Single Spine Salary Pay Policy (SSSPP). He said stakeholders in the implementation of the policy - government, organised labour and FWSC - agreed that the increase should be part of the negotiations.

Speaking in a telephone interview with Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Accra, Mr Smith-Graham said "we have not concluded the base pay and the relativities. We are still working on them and to cushion workers, we agreed on the increase which is not in isolation from the policy". Mr Smith-Graham said the stakeholders were determined to make sure the best was achieved out of the policy and explained that the increase would reflect in the salaries of workers in July, while 50 per cent of the increases from January to June this year would be paid in August and the remaining 50 per cent paid in September. He said it was not possible for the Controller and Accountant General's Department (CAGD) to operate the increase and the implementation of the policy concurrently, but gave the assurance that the policy to be undertaken in phases would definitely be implemented in July. On the issue between FWSC and Civil and Local Government Staff Association of Ghana (CLOGSAG) before the National Labour Commission (NLC) Mr Smith-Graham said it was postponed to Wednesday, June 23. Members of CLOGSAG went to the NLC to contest constitutionality of certain sections of the policy and to compel FWSC to negotiate with them as a body distinct from other branches of organised labour.