The Chairman of the Finance Committee in Parliament has explained that the amendment of the Pension Act 2008, Act 766 is in the best interest of workers.
[contextly_sidebar id=”02v4nIHnE25GkRJynYlgqa4CaXrTzgYx”]According to him, the bill “was referred to the joint committee of Finance, Employment and Social Welfare Committee under a certificate of urgency,” because of its importance.
Public Sector workers were provoked by the amendment made by Parliament in the Pension Act stating that, it will could lead to a decrease in the payment of the tier one contributions to workers.
The Civil and Local Government Staff Association of Ghana (CLOGSAG) subsequently held a press conference to express their displeasure over the amendment.
The the Executive Secretary of CLOGSAG,Isaac Bampoe-Addo, insisted that “the amendment at this point in time cast doubts on the motive of government in the implementation of the pension reform,” he said.
But speaking on Eyewitness News on Tuesday, Mr Avedzi further explained that the rush in passing the Pensions Act 766 was to fulfill a transitional provision which mandates that the Act should be reviewed after five years of passage.
“There was some issues that needs to be put in place for which if not done, by January by 2015, those people who will be going on retirement, their pensions cannot be calculated,” he added.
He further opined that “CLOGSAG should also know that me as a chairman of the finance committee, I am a contributor and my interest is there as well, and therefore I will not sit on that committee and do something that will go to the disadvantage of contributors for which I am a beneficiary.
He further chided the public sector workers for their haste in pointing accusing fingers at government over the amendment saying that “I am surprised that they’ve chosen to go this way…instead of approaching SSNIT and then NPRA to find out what is the actuarial work done so that with this amendment what will be the position for them.”
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By: Godwin Allotey Akweiteh/citifmonline.com/Ghana