President assures public sector workers of job security amidst economic crisis on International Workers’ Day
Ghanaian President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has assured the nation that no public sector worker has lost their job due to the current economic crisis. Speaking at the 2023 International Workers’ Day celebration, the President emphasized that every public sector worker has kept their job, even during the peak of the global health and economic crises in the last three years. This testimony, according to the President, is evidence of the Government’s commitment to safeguarding the income and livelihoods of workers.
The President went on to explain that the Government’s unwavering support for workers is demonstrated through increases in national daily minimum wage, base pay, pension payments, among others. These increments, he said, are made possible because the Government is empathetic towards the people and concerned about their plight and the future of the country, despite their fiscal impact on the economy.
In commemoration of this year’s International Workers’ Day, which falls on May 1, under the theme, “Protecting Incomes and Pensions in an Era of Economic Crisis: Our responsibility,” the President highlighted the importance of protecting pensions and incomes in an era of economic crisis. He emphasized that this responsibility is tied to increasing productivity, enhancing revenue mobilization, effective expenditure management, and the management and sustainability of the public sector wage bill.
The President assured the nation that the Government is working on the payment of pensions to the retirees of the year 2020. He noted that the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) had completed the computations and forwarded them to the Ministry of Finance, which had assured him that the payments would be effective this year.
For the most part, the President’s speech was a reassurance to the nation that the Government is committed to protecting the income and livelihoods of workers, even during these difficult times. The Government’s determination to improve the wellbeing of workers is evident through its unwavering support for them. As the nation commemorates International Workers’ Day, it is important to recognize the contributions of workers, promote their rights, and commemorate the labor movement.
Source: GNA