Public sector workers have vowed to resist any attempt by the Controller and Accountant General’s Department to impose payment of salaries using the e-zwich system.
According to the workers, undertaking such a move will amount to infringing on their rights.
“We all agreed that there was not enough consultation, it is an imposition and we are in a democratic disposition, where government cannot determine how somebody should spend or where he or she should place his or her money,” the Director of complaints and grievances at CLOGSAG, Kwame Asamoah Dwumoh stated.
A meeting involving representatives of twelve public sector worker unions and officials of the Accountant General’s Department, the Finance and Employment Ministries, led to a suspension of the policy stating that public workers will be paid via the e-zwich platform.
An earlier directive from the Controller and Accountant General’s Department asked all public workers in the Greater Accra region to migrate unto the e-zwich platform by May 31st 2016, failure to do so it cautioned will result in the suspension of salaries of affected workers.
But speaking to Citi Business News, Kwame Asamoah Dwumoh ruled out any possibility by the government to reinstate the policy.
He however intimated that the various worker unions will not tolerate any attempt to breach the agreement reached.
“I know definitely nothing of that sort is going to happen because when we met there was no sign that there was a resistance to it… We all agreed and I don’t think something of that sort should happen, but should that happen, we will know what to do,”
Kwame Dwumoh added, “It involves all the twelve worker unions so when we find out that even one of these workers’ union has had their salaries suspended as a result of the directive; we will meet and take a decision.”
E-zwich to rid ghost names
The Controller and Accountant General’s Department had argued that the implementation of the electronic payment system will help control government expenditure.
According to the CAGD, the increased number of ghost names on the public sector wage bill continues to impact on the country’s increasing budget deficit which needs to be eliminated.
The National Service Scheme early this year reported that it has eliminated about 35,000 ghost names since it commenced the implementation of the e-zwich payment system.
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By: Pius Amihere Eduku/citibusinessnews.com/Ghana