In 2023, the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) carried out a statewide payroll monitoring exercise that resulted in significant savings of GH₵345 million for Ghana.
This program, which included 120 public sector organizations, sought to lower pay costs and improve employment openness in the public sector.
Ignatius Baffour Awuah, the Minister of Employment, Labour Relations, and Pensions, revealed the savings at a press conference hosted by the Ministry of Information in Accra.
He emphasized that the government saved a huge amount of money as a result of the payroll monitoring exercise’s significant reduction in the salary cost.
Industrial Harmony
Additionally, Mr. Baffour Awuah highlighted Ghana’s stable and peaceful work environment, attributing it to social partners’ cooperative efforts. He said that over the previous seven and a half years, the Ministry had successfully settled all labor conflicts that endangered national security and peace, with the help of important players.
“The Ministry will continue with the work of improving the welfare of workers and employers while maintaining a peaceful labour front.”
He also emphasized the continuous revisions being made to important sector laws, such as the Labour Act, 2003 (Act 651), to make them more inclusive and appropriate for the demands of the contemporary workplace.
He said that among the amendments included in the new Labour Bill are measures to prolong maternity leave, outlaw specific acts by private employment agencies, and offer protection against harassment and violence at work.
Dedicated to the Welfare of Workers
The Minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to upholding industrial harmony and peace and to guaranteeing the well-being of both employers and employees. Citing the largest Base Pay adjustment since the Single Spine Pay Policy’s implementation in 2010 and the 25% increase in monthly pensions for SSNIT seniors, he emphasized the government’s commitment to preserving high income levels for both workers and retirees.
He also listed additional accomplishments of the Ministry, such as attempts to create jobs, better pension management, and bolstering the Labour Department’s operating capabilities.
In addition, he advised job seekers to be cautious of dubious employment opportunities and emphasized that the Ministry is not a hiring organization.
Payroll Monitoring’s Advantages
Benjamin Arthur, the chief executive of the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission, emphasized during a Q&A session that the goal of the payroll monitoring operation was to guarantee that public sector employees were paid accurately for their wages, benefits, and allowances.
He said that the exercise had reduced the number of ghost workers on the government payroll, increased the productivity of public sector employees, and found a number of abnormalities.
“Overall, the payroll monitoring exercise has contributed to a more efficient, transparent, and accountable public sector payroll management system,” he said.
