Strike for fair pay
The Civil and Local Government Staff Association, Ghana (CLOGSAG), has declared a nationwide strike effective 7 November 2024. This follows…
The Civil and Local Government Staff Association, Ghana (CLOGSAG), has declared a nationwide strike effective 7 November 2024. This follows a notice served on 23 October 2024 over what CLOGSAG described as the prolonged delay in finalising a salary structure for staff to be implemented from 1 January 2025. The Association said its declaration is in line with the expiration of the 31 October deadline for the government to meet their demands, adding that despite multiple meetings, the government has yet to make a concrete offer. Therefore, they have decided not to have anything to do with the Fair Wages and the Salaries Commission (FWSC).
The Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) has called on the Civil and Local Government Staff Association of Ghana (CLOGSAG) to reconsider its decision to strike and return to negotiations for a timely resolution of their concerns. CLOGSAG’s previous strikes had significant consequences, disrupting Parliamentary activities, preventing Members of Parliament from accessing their District Assembly Common Fund, and hampering civil service operations. The government, well aware of the potential impact of another strike, has assured the association that its demands have been forwarded to the Office of the Senior Presidential Advisor for review and possible approval. However, with Ghana currently under an IMF programme, the government faces constraints that challenge unilateral salary adjustments, particularly given the already stretched salary budget. CLOGSAG is undoubtedly aware of these constraints but appears to be leveraging the imminence of the upcoming elections to push its demands, recognising this as a strategic moment to gain government attention. Amid Ghana’s recent economic turmoil, Government Statistician Professor Samuel Kobina Annim raised concerns that public sector workers may be generally overpaid. He disclosed that, on average, public sector employees earn about GH¢3,420 ($186.74), while their output is valued at around GH¢1,420 — less than half of their earnings. This disparity, he suggested, indicates a need for a reassessment of wage structures within the sector.