COPEC calls for salary review alongside transport fare hikes to cushion workers
Executive Director of the Chamber of Petroleum Consumers (COPEC), Duncan Amoah, says workers’ salaries may need to be reviewed alongside any increase in transport fares to cushion commuters from rising living costs. He said that while commercial transport operators are facing increased fuel and maintenance costs, commuters who depend on public transport would ultimately bear […]
Executive Director of COPEC, Duncan Amoah, has called for a salary review alongside any increase in transport fares to alleviate the burden on commuters facing rising living expenses. He explained that commercial transport operators are experiencing increased fuel and maintenance costs, which will ultimately be borne by commuters who rely on public transport when fares rise.
Amoah suggested that organized labor, including the Trades Union Congress (TUC), may need to engage government and employers in potential salary adjustments to support workers who are losing income due to stagnant wages. This call comes as ongoing talks between the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) and the government are underway to discuss a transport fare adjustment.
The GPRTU is seeking a fare increase as operators struggle with rising operational costs, including fuel prices. While the government's intervention of GH¢2 per litre on diesel has provided some relief, it has not halted the upward trend in fuel costs. Amoah noted that despite the intervention, some adjustment in transport fares might be necessary to ensure drivers can generate sufficient revenue to maintain their vehicles.
He advocated for a scientific approach to determining transport fares, suggesting a "cost-per-kilometre and cost-per-passenger model" to make adjustments more objective and reduce the need for negotiations whenever operating costs change.
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