Government has described as false a Joynews report claiming that it has agreed to pay Members of the Ghana Medical Association (GMA), 50% of their basic salary as Professional Allowance.
A statement signed by the Minister of Health, Alex Segbefia stated that the Public Services Joint Standing Negotiating Committee (PSJSNC) is already involved in a universal discussion of Category 2 & 3 allowances.
[contextly_sidebar id=”9HBerNFkxjLxhpTPjuinB50NdM7lywVQ”]“The Ho Forum had agreed that the implementation of these allowances be deferred until after all public sector workers have been migrated on to the Single Spine Salary Structure,” he added.
The Minister added that a number of demands contained in the GMA’s proposal fall under Category 2 and 3 and can therefore not be discussed between the Government and the GMA alone.
“Government wishes to restate that the negotiation of such allowances at the level of the PSJSNC is not negotiable. Any action to the contrary will seriously destroy the successful implementation of the Single Spine Pay Policy, which has and continues to have huge financial implications for the taxpayer.”
The Minister further assured that “we have remained committed to the negotiation process with the GMA and Organized Labour with the view to ensuring a harmonious and productive working environment in Ghana. This commitment underpins the latest meeting with the Ghana Medical Association, which took place today, Sunday August 09, 2015.”
Meanwhile, negotiations between government and striking doctors over their conditions of service had broken down, leaving the doctors with very little option but to carry out their mass resignation threats.
The General Secretary of the Ghana Medical Association Dr Justice Yankson told citifmonline.com, “Negotiations have broken down,” without further details.
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By: citifmonline.com/Ghana