He said the consultants contracted by the government to undertake the reforms in the pay structure would conclude their work by the end of July this year, and present their recommendations to the government.

The government would then study the report and determine the cost implications for the 2009 Budget and then begin implementation next year.

Mr Owusu-Adjei was speaking at a press conference in Accra yesterday to update the media on efforts so far made by the government in the area of pay policy reform and clarify issues relating to it.

The new pay policy is being introduced to improve morale and productivity among public servants and also establish equity in public sector salary administration.

Mr Owusu-Adjei noted that there had been some delay in the entire process but attributed the situation to the delay by most subvented agencies in submitting details on pay and allowances to the ministry for onward transmission to the consultants who needed them for their work.

He said, however, that a lot of success had been achieved, especially in the course of last year, adding that progress was manifested in two reports covering allowances and “single spine” and job evaluation results.

He explained that under the single spine system, employees with the same qualification doing the same volume of work in the public sector would receive the same salary, irrespective of which public sector organisation they worked for.
 
Mr Owusu-Adjei said the ministry held a stakeholders' forum last month, during which invaluable recommendations were made, which were being considered by the consultants.

With regard to the grading of jobs in the public sector, the minister explained that at the moment 1,806 benchmark jobs had been graded but added that it was important that all the 800 jobs in public sector services were graded before the placement exercise and the eventual implementation of the single spine.

Mr Owusu-Adjei cautioned all stakeholders that while they took care of their interests, they should balance those interests with the national interest for the sake of harmony and peace.

The Minister for Manpower, Youth and Employment, Nana Akomea, said the government wanted to avoid disparities and a collapse of the new salary structure and, therefore, care was needed to fashion it out.

He said it was the first time such a comprehensive salary reform was taking place and added that the new structure would affect workers whose salaries were drawn from the Consolidated Fund.

Story by Mark-Anthony Vinorkor

Source: Daily Graphic