Accra, Nov. 22, GNA - Labour unions, associations, institutions and other stakeholders have agreed to a two-week moratorium to study a report on standardisation and harmonisation of Categories Two and Three allowances and other remunerations in the public services.

A statement issued by Mr Sena Atoklo of the Public Relations Unit of the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission said the agreement was reached at a forum by representatives of the various stakeholders in Accra. The representatives of the labour unions, associations and institutions together with other stakeholders after the two weeks will meet again for their final contributions to the consultant's Report. The statement said Categories two and three allowances under the Single Spine Pay Policy are to be harmonised and standardised. This forms part of recommendations for the implementation of the new Pay Policy, accepted by the Government in its White Paper on the Single Spine Pay Policy issued in November 2009.

The statement said the forum was organised by the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission, the body legally mandated to deal with issues of salaries and other Conditions of Service for Public Service institutions, which fall under Article 190 of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana. It said the discussions of the consultant's report would be undertaken within the established nine Service Classifications in the Public Services. "The Fair Wages and Salaries Commission will have representatives on the Committees that will be set up to look at the report dispassionately, with a view to arriving at a consensus, which should serve as the basis for negotiating the allowances and other conditions of Service." The statement said the Director for Pay Policy, Research and Analysis at the Commission, Mr J.Y. Amankrah, took the participants through the Report of the Consultant.

This included the research findings and the consultant's recommendations regarding Categories Two & Three Allowances and other Conditions of Service. The Chief Executive of the Commission, George Smith-Graham, expressed satisfaction at the way and manner the discussions were conducted without acrimony. "If all issues associated with the implementation of the Single Spine Pay Policy will be carried out with the necessary zeal and commitment as exhibited by all the stakeholders, the implementation process should not experience any major setbacks," he said. 22 Nov. 10