‘Something is better than nothing’, but 10% minimum wage increase not enough – Minority
28th July 2018
The Minority in Parliament has kicked against a recent 10% increase in the minimum wage by the National Tripartite Committee (NTC), describing it as poor.
Deputy Minority Spokesperson on Employment, Richard Quashigah, thinks the NTC could have done better.
“I think that one will say something is better than nothing but the reality is that, that is not deep enough. What impact will it have on the economy of the ordinary person who will be affected by this and so it is a mixed feeling. It is as if nothing really has been added up to it," he told Citi FM.
Related: Minimum wage goes up by %10%; now GHȻ10.65
The daily minimum wage has been raised by 10 per cent, reaching GHȻ10.65 from GHȻ9.68.
The decision was arrived at after deliberations of the NTC in Accra on Thursday, July 26.
A communique issued by the NTC has, therefore, directed all institutions whose Daily Minimum Wage is below the new Daily Minimum Wage to adjust its wages upward from 1st January 2019.
The new wage takes effect from January 1, 2019.
Commenting on the minimum wage increase, Mr Quashigah said the increase is woefully insignificant in the face of increased taxes.
“It does not amount to anything substantial especially at a time when we are not too sure whether there is an increase in taxes as in relation to straight levy with regards to NHIL and GETFund. If this should translate into a higher toll by way of taxes it means you are not putting any addition to what they are already earning but indirectly you are taking more from them,” he said.