The Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) has successfully saved Ghana over GH₵345 million through a comprehensive payroll monitoring exercise carried out across the country in 2023.
The initiative, which scrutinized the payrolls of 120 public sector institutions, aimed to streamline the wage bill and enhance transparency within public sector employment.
Announcing the achievement at a Minister’s press briefing organized by the Ministry of Information, Minister for Employment, Labour Relations, and Pensions, Ignatius Baffour Awuah, stated that the exercise played a crucial role in reducing government expenditure, yielding significant savings.
In addition to the payroll monitoring success, Mr. Baffour Awuah highlighted the peaceful and stable labor environment in Ghana, attributing it to effective collaboration among social partners.
He commended the Ministry’s efforts in resolving all industrial disputes over the past seven and a half years, ensuring national peace and security.
The Minister also discussed ongoing legislative reviews aimed at modernizing labor laws, including the Labour Act, 2003 (Act 651).
The proposed Labour Bill, he noted, would introduce reforms to protect workers against violence and harassment, extend maternity leave, and regulate the activities of private employment agencies.
The commitment to worker welfare was further underscored by Mr. Baffour Awuah, who cited the government’s focus on maintaining high income levels for both workers and pensioners.
He pointed to the highest adjustment of the Base Pay since 2010 and a 25 percent increase in monthly pensions for SSNIT pensioners as key achievements.
The Minister also warned jobseekers to be cautious of fraudulent employment schemes, reiterating that the Ministry is not a recruitment body.
In a subsequent discussion, FWSC Chief Executive Benjamin Arthur stressed the benefits of the payroll monitoring exercise, noting that it had identified anomalies, reduced ghost workers, and fostered a more efficient and accountable public sector payroll system.
