Organized Labour has threatened to embark on strike action come May 2, 2024, if the government fails to fulfil its promises to pay the tier-2 pensions of its members.
The Trades Union Congress (TUC) and its associated groups said that despite the persistent appeals and negotiations, the government has refused to respond to their demands.
Secretary-General of the TUC, Dr. Anthony Yaw Baah lamented the government’s consistent unresponsiveness. As a result, Organized Labour has vowed to consider different alternatives including a strike action to push the government to address their grievances.
“You may know that the public sector unions under the forum have already given notice that on the 2nd of May, if they don’t hear anything about the payment of this second tier on the 30th of April, they will strike.”
“We will want to send this notice to the government that if by the 30th of April they don’t do anything about this our second tier, on the 2nd of May we will all join the forum. I can imagine what will happen in this country if they allow this thing to happen,” Yaw Baah stated.
The National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) on Thursday also waded into the issue, berating the government’s reluctance to pay mandatory contributions for over 700,000 Ghanaian workers.
NAGRAT President, Angel Carbonu, accused the government of financial misconduct during a press conference on Thursday, April 18. He mentioned the non-payment of Tier-2 pension scheme contributions and other third-party deductions since July 2023.
Mr. Carbonu stressed that these contributions are deducted from workers’ salaries but not passing the appropriate quarters of the institutions.
This development has raised doubts, according to NAGRAT, about the future financial security of these workers, particularly upon retirement.