Ghana’s low-wage structure rooted in colonial labour system — TUC’s Dr Otoo
Deputy Secretary-General of the Trades Union Congress (TUC), Dr Kwabena Nyarko Otoo, has attributed Ghana’s low salaries and wages to labour practices introduced during the colonial era.
Dr Kwabena Nyarko Otoo, Deputy Secretary-General of the Trades Union Congress (TUC), has linked Ghana's low salaries and wages to labour practices established during the colonial era. In an interview on Joy FM's Super Morning Show, Dr Otoo drew historical parallels to suggest that workers who were initially paid more were more likely to achieve their targets within six months and subsequently leave their jobs.
This pattern, according to Dr Otoo, created labour shortages even when jobs were abundant, leading colonial employers to lower wages in an attempt to retain workers for extended periods. He explained that the British colonial mindset held that high wages reduced labour supply, prompting employers to extend the pay period from six months to a year.
Despite the end of colonial rule, Dr Otoo argued that this low-wage structure persists in Ghana's labour market, negatively impacting workers' earnings to this day. The TUC leader was on the show to address the cost of living in the country.
Written by urgent.news from MyJoyOnline Ghana's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
