Veep: All workers to enjoy single spine in September 2011

Government has pledged to successfully migrate all public sector workers unto the new pay policy- Single Spine Salary Structure (SSSS)- in September this year.

This was revealed by the Vice President John Dramani Mahama during the National May Day Celebration in Accra on Sunday.

Representing the President John Mills who is addressing a similar ceremony in Tamale, John Mahama noted that 33 institutions, representing 66 percent of the total public sector workers are currently enjoying salaries under the new and improved salary structure with the number expected to increase to 90 per cent in June, 2011.

Addressing the challenges facing the implementation of the SSSS, the Vice president noted that the policy constituted the largest expenditure demands on the budget and given the economic deficit it inherited from the NPP it was going to be a difficult policy to implement.

“We have cause to commend ourselves; prudent management of the economy has brought the deficit substantially under control and made the economy better able to absorb the new policy,” he said.

He commended organized labour for the good faith that has been shown so far in the implementation of the SSSS and hoped other workers who are yet to be migrated show similar faith till the end of the process.

The vice presented regretted the low productivity which he said “remains embarrassingly low in the sub-region” and challenged workers to be committed towards increased productivity.

He said the government is also committed to the implementation of a National Social Protection Strategy, including the Livelihood Empowerment Programme (LEAP), school feeding, free maternal health care, capitation grant, elimination of schools under tree, all aimed at strengthening the social safety net and protect the deprived and vulnerable people in the country.

He also challenged workers to play a watchdog role as government vigorously fight public sector corruption in the country.

He reiterated government’s pledge to uphold the rule of law and sustenance of peace in the country saying “the peace and stability Ghana enjoys is our most priceless possession; more priceless than all the oil, gold cocoa or other resources we possess. This administration will do nothing to jeorpardise the peace and progress we are enjoying and neither will it allow anybody to do so.”

More soon;