Labour Expert accuses Government and Workers of taking entrenched positions on Tier two pension schemes

A Labour Expert, Austin Gamey has accused Government and Labour of taking entrenched positions in the management of the controversial Tier two pension schemes.

Public Sector workers belonging to 12 labour unions last week announced an indefinite strike action in protest at government's handling of the pension schemes. The workers who want to select their own fund managers to manage the five per cent under the tier two scheme claim government is acting in contravention of the Pension Law.

Government has in turn sued the labour unions and wants a pronouncement from the court on whether it is the employer to these workers and whether it has the right to select a fund manager to manage the tier two pension scheme.

It also wants the courts to declare the strike as illegal.

Speaking to Live News, Mr Gamey wondered why a simple issue like the management of workers' pensions could degenerate into an indefinite strike and a court action.

“If this matter were to be tabled properly and they themselves are unable to resolve it and they come to me, I am saying in all humility, if I should be between this two gentlemen as it were, maximum three hours, this matter will be over. I don't see the reason why they should kill themselves, I don't see the reason why we should stop work, I don't see the reason why we should be worrying ourselves about court. This is a resolvable matter. This is a three hour matter that should be resolved. I don't see why it shouldn't be resolved,” Mr Gamey opined.

Meanwhile
Public Sector workers have justified their strike action and suspicion of government not better handling its funds.

The indefinite strike action has left doctors and care givers abandoning their patients with teachers also abandoning the class rooms as well as other critical engagements.

The workers who say it is within their right to manage the second tier pension fund or at least be allowed to appoint their own trustees to manage it have accused government of not properly managing workers funds in the past.

Speaking on Joy FM's weekend current affairs program, News File; the President of the National Association of Graduate Teachers, Christian Addae Poku said their suspicion of government stemmed from government defaulting in paying workers contributions to the Social Security and National Insurance Trust.

“We have a suspicion because we have had a publication from SSNIT that indicated clearly that government of Ghana owes SSNIT to the tune of GH¢800million and that is pension money. And so what guarantee can government give us that, our portion of that money is not also in arrears as this?” Mr Addae Poku quizzed.

Ekow Annan/Live FM
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