Accra, May 30, GNA- Government employers and Organised Labour have announced that the Single Spine Pay Policy will be implemented effective

January 1, 2010. This is the outcome of the three-day Stakeholders' Consultative Workshop on the Single Pay Policy at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) from May 27 to 29 2009.

A statement issued by the Minister of Employment and Social Welfare, Mr. Stephen Amoanor Kwao and the Secretary General of the Ghana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) Mr. Kofi Asamoah said the Single Spine Pay Policy be implemented, while efforts are being made to address the concerns and challenges that may arise from the implementation. It stated that consequently, a road map, which began in April 2009 towards the adoption and implementation of the policy has been revised and agreed on by the stakeholders.

The statement said unions and associations are to submit all outstanding issues and concerns related to the Single Spine Pay Policy to the Fair Wages and Salary Commission by June 12, 2009. It said, pending the implementation of the Single Spine Pay Policy, salary negotiations for 2009 for public sector institutions will commence from June 1, 2009. To this end, the statement said, organised labour is expected to submit proposals on salaries for negotiations to the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission.

"Managements of various institutions and organisations are mandated by government to negotiate the other conditions of service. The spirit of social dialogue that characterised the deliberations at the workshop, enjoined all stakeholders to commit themselves to the agreements reached," it said.