‘Nothing short of an insult’ – Minority caucus condemns 9% pay rise

The Minority in Parliament has condemned the 9% pay rise agreed for public sector workers in 2027, calling it “nothing short of an insult” and demanding an immediate review. In a statement issued on Friday, the caucus argued that the adjustment would leave workers struggling to meet rising household expenses. It also questioned why Organised Labour had accepted a two-year agreement. The statement was signed by Mavis Nkansah Boadu, MP and Ranking Member of Parliament’s Committee on Employment, Labour Relations and Pensions. According to the Minority, the agreement was finalised on October 28, 2026. It provides an 8% increase in base pay and a 1% increase in conditions of service in 2027, followed by a 10% remuneration increase in 2028. “This miserly adjustment is a direct assault on the dignity of workers, especially when juxtaposed with the compounding burden of utility tariff increases imposed on citizens across 2025 and 2026,” the statement said. The caucus argued that successive wage adjustments had failed to protect purchasing power. It cited 10% increases in 2025 and 9% in 2026. By its calculations, electricity tariffs had risen roughly 29% since the start of 2025, while cumulative wage growth was about 20%. It put the increase in water tariffs over the same period at roughly 18%. The Minority also cited rent, transport fares, cooking gas, and mobile data as expenses that put further pressure on workers. It accused the government of demanding wage restraint while allowing household bills to rise. The caucus also challenged labour leaders over how they handled the negotiations. It said they had promised to push strongly for a significant increase, but accepted 9% and committed workers to another year. “Workers are asking, and rightly so, whether their leaders went to the table to defend their wages or to deliver industrial peace for Government.” The Minority urged union members to demand a full account of the negotiations. It called on Organised Labour to publish its proposals and explain the concessions behind the agreement. It also demanded that the Public Services Joint Standing Negotiating Committee reconvene immediately to review the remuneration framework. The caucus said future wage negotiations must account for utility tariffs and commodity prices. It further accused the government of using the planned transition to the Independent Public Emoluments Commission to restrict workers’ bargaining position. “We reject this insulting 9% pay deal in the face of relentless electricity tariff hikes,” the statement said.