STICK TO SSSS IMPLEMENTATION DEADLINE (NOV 30)

SINCE the introduction of the Single Spine Salary Structure (SSSS), there have been varying views from public sector workers through the various workers’ groups and associations.
The SSSS was introduced to remove distortions in the current salary structure.
Pay equity is all about equal pay for equal work done by workers with the same qualification and experience.
For instance, in the public sector, where the government is the sole employer, work done in different ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) by people in the same profession and with equal qualification must, in all justification, attract the same pay.
Sadly, this has never been the case, as salaries across the board in the public sector have been grossly distorted, especially in favour of professionals in agencies popularly referred to as revenue earners.
Various forms of agitation and discussions have been going on since the SSSS policy was brought on board, leading to a stakeholders’ workshop at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) from May 27 to 29, this year.
The Ghana Medical Association (GMA), in particular, and some organised workers’ groups have kicked against the implementation of the new pay structure.
The stakeholders’ workshop was attended by representatives of the government, employers and organised labour who agreed on five acceptable and amicable points towards the implementation of the SSSS.
They agreed that the SSSS should be implemented on January 1, 2010 and that all challenges and concerns be addressed in line with the implementation of the policy.
It is for this that we are elated that the government has finally come out with a White Paper which, among others, say that the SSSS will commence, as agreed on by the stakeholders, on January 2010.
We are also happy that the Trades Union Congress (TUC) has welcomed the issuance of the government’s White Paper, even though the union thinks it is a bit late in coming.
We want to agree with the TUC that even though the issuance of the White Paper had delayed, what is needed at this moment is for the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) to start negotiations for the base salary that will be the foundation for the single spine structure and conditions of service for the various public sector workers.
We, however, want to call on organised labour to exercise patience and bear with the government, as the implementation will be in phases and could take some time due to the resolution of some challenges likely to come up as a result of the huge wage bill the government may face if there is going to be any increases in salaries.
In implementing the SSSS, we should not forget what happened during the implementation of the Ghana Universal Salary Structure (GUSS) in the past.
After the end of the GUSS, a number of other salary structures emerged and based on those structures there were further inequalities in public sector pay, hence the introduction of this new pay structure — the SSSS.
We hope and pray that now that the government has indicated its intention to implement the road map, all stakeholders will come on board for the smooth implementation of the policy.
Whatever disagreement any workers’ group may have, we believe it can go to the FWSC for negotiations to iron them out.
We also believe that in spite of the implementation challenges, the SSSS would, in the end, be the policy to bring about equity and transparency in public sector pay administration.
We, therefore, call on the government to stick to the implementation deadline.