The Minister of Labour, Jobs and Employment, Dr Rashid Pelpuo, has appealed to the Civil and Local Government Staff Association, Ghana (CLOGSAG) to call off its nationwide strike and return to the negotiation table, assuring that the government is working to address their concerns.
He said discussions had been held with the Ministry of Finance and other stakeholders to examine the association’s requests and determine how they could be addressed within the country’s economic framework.
Dr Pelpuo emphasised that strikes should not be the first option in resolving labour disputes, cautioning that a prolonged industrial action could negatively affect the economy and create hardships for citizens who rely on public services.
He told the Daily Graphic in a telephone conversation that the government was willing to listen to and work with the association to resolve the matter through dialogue, indicating that previous attempts to engage the association had not yielded the needed opportunities for discussion.
Dr Pelpuo said the government had already initiated engagement with the association and was working to fully understand the demands of the association.
He explained that he had earlier directed the Chief Executive Officer of the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission to meet with the leadership of the association after consultations with the National Labour Commission.
The minister stated that officials of the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission also indicated that they had not had the chance to engage the association before the strike was announced.“Yesterday, after meeting with the Executive Secretary, CLOGSAG also held discussions with their executives so we could better understand exactly what they require,” he said.
Strike
Despite the minister’s appeal, CLOGSAG members yesterday continued the indefinite strike, which they started last Monday, to demand the implementation of their Conditions of Service, including salary increments.
The strike follows years of delays in fulfilling a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with the government in 2019. Among its key demands, CLOGSAG is calling for the immediate adoption of a new salary structure agreed upon with the government, in addition to rectifying long-standing, agreed-upon improved working conditions.
Situation
The strike has brought business activities in several civil and local government offices, particularly the ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), as well as the metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies (MMDAs), to a standstill.
When the Daily Graphic visited some of the MDAs yesterday, it observed that most offices were closed.
For instance, at the CLOGSAG’s national headquarters in the Ministries enclave in Accra, offices were deserted, and a red band, usually signalling protests, was tied across the entrance, an indication that the strike action was fully on.
Some employees who reported to work were asked to leave the premises immediately.
A staff member, speaking on condition of anonymity, said employees were warned not to get close to the office premises or face consequences.
“We were told clearly not to come near the office until further notice.
Those who came this morning were asked to go back home,” the source explained.
Source:
www.graphic.com.gh