Labour Minister engages CLOSAG Executives over claims

By KwaminaTandoh, GNA
Accra, July 27, GNA - The Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations on Wednesday held a meeting with the Civil and Local Government Staff Association of Ghana (CLOSAG) to fashion out steps forward over unpaid interim premium allowances.

CLOSAG threatened to withdraw its services on July 27 over the allowances.

Notices around various government offices read: 'The fight for interim premium allowances is on from Wednesday, July 27, 2016, stay home until further notice.''

In an interview with the Ghana News Agency after a closed door meeting with the CLOSAG members and its executives, Mr Haruna Iddrisu, the Minister of Employment and Labour Relations, said: 'What we have said as Government is to make an appeal to them not to consummate the threat of a strike…but to continue to dialogue… on the grievances that they have tabled before government.'

'My understanding is that they have listed three legitimate concerns that is entering market premium and transition to market premium and related matters,' he said.

Mr Iddrisu said the Group had also petitioned him in respect of some inequalities and unfairness in their dealings relative to other sectors of the economy including health and education and the use of service and non skills as a matter to determine who deserves market premium, accordingly.

He said the petition of CLOSAG had been referred to the Grievances Committee of the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission to study and make appropriate recommendations for onward transmission to the Minister of Finance.

'On the related matter of premium there's a subcommittee working with the Statistical Service which we have directed to engage CLOSAG so that they will make justification before that committee pursuant to the Government white paper and policy principle in that white paper accordingly'', he said.

Efforts by the GNA to interview the CLOSAG Executive proved futile as none of them refused to comment on the meeting.

GNA