‘Nothing short of an insult’ – Minority caucus condemns 9% pay rise
The Minority in Parliament has condemned the 9% pay rise agreed for public sector workers in 2027, calling it “nothing short of an insult” and demanding an immediate review.
Parliament's Minority Caucus has strongly criticized the 9% pay rise recently agreed upon for public sector workers for 2027, branding it "nothing short of an insult." The caucus has urged for an immediate review of the decision, expressing concerns over the impact on workers' ability to afford rising household expenses.
The statement, issued on Friday, was signed by Mavis Nkansah Boadu, MP and Ranking Member of the Parliament’s Committee on Employment, Labour Relations and Pensions. The agreement, finalized on October 28, 2026, involves an 8% increase in base pay and a 1% boost in conditions of service in 2027, followed by a 10% remuneration rise in 2028.
The caucus argues that the pay adjustment does not adequately protect workers' purchasing power. They point to 10% wage hikes in 2025 and 9% in 2026, alongside a 29% increase in electricity tariffs since the beginning of 2025 and an 18% rise in water tariffs over the same period. The caucus also highlights additional expenses such as rent, transport fares, cooking gas, and mobile data, which further strain workers' finances.
The Minority Caucus also questions the leadership's negotiation tactics, accusing them of accepting 9% when they had promised a significant increase. They demand that labor leaders provide a full account of the negotiations, citing whether their commitment to industrial peace outweighed their duty to defend workers' wages. The caucus encourages Organised Labour to publish its proposals and clarify the concessions included in the agreement.
The Minority Caucus demands the reconvening of the Public Services Joint Standing Negotiating Committee to review the remuneration framework. They argue that future wage negotiations must consider utility tariffs and commodity prices, accusing the government of restricting workers' bargaining power by transitioning to an Independent Public Emoluments Commission. The caucus vehemently rejects the 9% pay deal in the face of escalating electricity tariffs.
Written by urgent.news from MyJoyOnline Ghana's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
