Government has once again appealed to the striking University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) to call off their strike as their arrears will be paid them according to the National Labour Commission’s directives.
In a statement signed by Minister for Information and Media Relations, Hon Mahama Ayariga, government said all allowances of the lecturers have been paid leaving the market premium which was in dispute at that time but will be paid in three equal installments.
Below is the full statement
GOVERNMENT APPEALS TO UTAG TO CALL OFF STRIKE SINCE THEIR ARREARS WILL BE PAID ACCORDING TO NATIONAL LABOUR COMMISSION DIRECTIVES
Government once again appeals to the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) to call off their strike and return to the lecture halls since Government has agreed to pay according to the National Labour Commission (NLC) directives.
University teachers have been fully paid their monthly salaries and other allowances for every month that they have worked in 2013. In 2012 they were paid all their salaries and other benefits except the market premium which is an allowance that was in dispute and was a subject matter before the National Labour Commission (NLC). The Commission decided that Government was liable to pay the allowance.
The National Labour Commission agreed with the proposal of Government and directed that the arrears of the allowances for 2012 should be paid in 3 equal installments in May, July and September. Essentially, the action of UTAG is seeking to pressurize Government to violate the directives of the NLC and to compel Government to make a lump sum payment.
It is regrettable that university teachers are not teaching presently even though their full salaries and allowances, as enhanced by the implementation of the Single Spine Salary Structure (SSSS), is being paid them even for the days that they stay away from work.
SIGNED
HON. MAHAMA AYARIGA (MP)
