Gov't cannot meet your demands - Minister tells GHOSPA

Haruna Iddrisu

Employment and Labour Relations Minister, Haruna Iddrisu says meeting the demands of striking pharmacists is almost impossible.

According to him, government did not make provisions for market premiums for agitating pharmacists in the 2016 budget.

“There is little that can be done because it was not budgeted for in the 2016 budget, therefore, government is unable to accede to their request,” Haruna Iddrisu said at a press conference Wednesday.

GHOSPA, on Monday, declared an indefinite strike in protest of  what they call the failure of the National Labour Commission (NLC) and the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) to address discrepancies in their market premium payment.

But the Labour Minister believes the strike will only discomfort patients and has therefore urged the pharmacists to rescind their decision.

He says though there is no budget provision government is committed to finding a solution to the issue.

He revealed a committee formed to look into the issue has completed its work and recommendations forwarded to the Grievances Committee for the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission to take the necessary action.

The National Labour Commission has argued that the strike action is not in the interest of the ordinary Ghanaian and has since dragged GHOSPA to court.



Source.pulse.com.gh