For us, this is a day when, besides recognizing the indefatigable contribution of workers, we should realistically look at the non-commensurate financial reward for their toils as we stand on the fringes.
They remain the unsung backbone of our economic development, ready to be mentioned in speeches as on such occasions under review, yet live from hand- to-mouth, malnourished and hopeless. Characteristic of such occasions, Ghanaian workers were promised a better tomorrow through an all-pervading implementation of the Single Spine Salary Structure.
For those already enjoying it, they have tales of woes to tell about how the propaganda which greeted its partial, or so, implementation resulted in skyrocketing of prices on the open market and depleted real incomes.
So much politicking has gone into the Single Spine scheme that it appears to have broken its lone spine, as it is challenged with arguments and counter-arguments over which regime originated it and the like. In the event, little or no room is left for the necessary fine-tuning to make it more palatable and beneficial for the Ghanaian worker for whom it is intended to assist in getting by in a rather inclement economic system.
Vice President John Mahama yesterday addressed Ghanaian workers, assuring them of full coverage of the scheme by September. Good talk, but the reality is that the average Ghanaian worker continues to be exploited by employers, especially in the private sector and there is no guarantee that with the Vice President making good his promise, the lot of the Ghanaian worker would alter overnight if at all.
It is our desire that government fashions an arrangement which would make it possible for employers to adhere to worldwide acceptable best practices in its obligations to workers.
Besides salary increase, workers’ living conditions could be bolstered through the provision of basic services such as health delivery, education for their kids and assured pension schemes.
The foregone for now are non-existent in many cases, leaving most workers totally drained by the time the next payday is due. It is not an exaggeration to state that many workers are denied access to three square meals a day, a situation which, besides being injurious to their health, compels them sometimes to borrow money to see them through the month.
With the burden of debt hanging around their necks like albatrosses on a near permanent basis, they continue to be inundated with promises of politicians that things would be alright, to which we ask “when?”
In the past year, since the last May Day celebrations, workers have witnessed further dwindling of their real incomes as they look on helplessly. They risk dismissals when they show any sign of discontent with their conditions.
We do hope that government would take another look at how to improve the living conditions of the Ghanaian worker through innovative interventions, outside the monthly emoluments available to them so that on the next May Day, the story would be different.
Anyway, we would nonetheless congratulate our hardworking workers for going through the hell that is the prevalent situation.
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Ghana Goes Through Another Ritual Of Celebrating May Day With A Yawn