Two Organised labour unions are disappointed that the mid-year budget review failed to address issues of cost of living and reduction in prices of goods and services.
Reacting to the mid-year budget, the Health Services Workers Union, (HSWU) and the General Agricultural Workers Union (GAWU) suggested that government must ensure that issues about salaries of workers are addressed.
The Minister of Finance Dr. Amin Adam in the mid-year budget presentation on July 23 touted the achievements of government.
He stated that government has raised over GHC4 billion to pay depositors after the banking sector clean up. Dr. Amin Adam also noted that inflation drop to about 22.3 percent and other initiatives which have improved the economy.
However, the two Organised Labour unions in an interview with TV3’s labour correspondent on July 24 expressed disappointment at the budget.
The General Secretary of the HSWU, Franklin Owusu Ansah said, the budget failed to address income inequalities among workers.
“Not necessarily bringing money into our pockets, even if you have the same money but you can still purchase an increased quantity of goods and services that the same money can buy it is still making the individual better off”.
“I represent workers and the only time we see more money coming into our pockets of the individual is when salaries are increased or taxes are reduced, this review is not going to increase salaries and it is not going to reduce taxes,” he stated.
The General Secretary of GAWU, Edward Kareweh criticised government for what he described as ‘IMF driven mid-year budget’.
“In any case, this country is now under the management of the IMF because they tell us what to do, so though the Finance Minister as I know him personally, is a perfect gentleman and I have a lot of respect for him but suddenly he doesn’t speak my voice, because he has now been made to think like IMF”.
“You can’t sit in a V8 claiming to know more of what is happening on the ground than those who do not sit in the V8. We don’t take V8 to the market, so you cannot come and explain to us the challenges within the economy,” he said.
“Let any body in government say that we are coming out with policies that benefit our people but not to fulfill IMF conditionalities.
“And I think that is so disappointing. Very very disappointing and I did not expect anything.”
The two general secretaries called for a proper system before the re-introduction of the road toll and other initiatives of government.
The post HSWU, GAWU express disappointment in 2024 mid-year budget first appeared on 3News.
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