High cost of living is a major concern to Ghanaians ahead of the budget presentation. Businesses in the country have already urged Government to review key tax handles making operations difficult.

The planned meeting between organized labor and the government regarding an increment in base pay concluded inconclusively.

Labor is advocating for a 45% increase in base pay, which would subsequently raise overall salaries.

Organise Labour and other Agencies are demanding a 30% increase of salary of public sector workers.

Mr. Isaac Bampo Addo the executive secretary of the Civil and Local Government Staff Association of Ghana said the economy is too hard and in spite of the budgetary presentation, they are expecting something better from the government and all they are looking for is a favourable working condition from government.

The Chief Executive Officer of the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission Ben Arthur is hopeful that the parties would reach an agreement.

Some Ghanaians also share their expectations about the budget presentation. According to some of them, the economy is too harsh to the extent they don’t even want to either hear or mention the name of the finance minister.

The planned meeting between organized labor and the government regarding an increment in base pay concluded inconclusively.

Labor is advocating for a 45 percent increase in base pay, which would subsequently raise overall salaries.

Joshua Ansah, the Deputy Secretary-General of the TUC, says labor is seeking what they consider a fair increase in the ongoing negotiations.

“Negotiations should come up with something better, so we are expecting something better for labor and the government itself, and I don’t want to talk about a percentage. Last year, we had 30 percent, and we are hoping for an improvement of the 30 percent upwards.”

Organized Labor demanded a 60% rise in base pay across all levels for the 2023 fiscal year, but several meetings failed to yield positive results for government workers.

The government subsequently agreed to increase the base pay on the Single Spine Salary Structure by 30% for all public sector works effective January 1, 2023.

KAAKYIRE NYAMEKYE DANSOA.

EMAIL: elizabethgyebi@gmail.com