Health Services Workers Union threatens gov’t

General Secretary of the Health Services Workers Union has asked government to take immediate steps to address some pertinent issues affecting the members of the union or face their wrath in the coming days.

Addressing a press conference in Tema after a workshop for some members of the union, Mr Reynolds Ofosu Tenkorang mentioned the non-payment of salary arrears, delay in posting of Graduate Health Workers, delay in transfer of Second-Tier Pension Scheme funds and Non -Implementation of Collective Agreement as some of the issues affecting their members.

He expressed unhappiness about government's adamant posture and refusal to transfer their 5% Second-Tier Pension Scheme Fund into a scheme they had established.

Mr Ofosu Tenkorang said government agreed to transfer the 5% of Tier 2 monies into the already established scheme by April this year.

He added that government also agreed to do same for the total sum deposited into the Temporary Pension Fund Account (TPFA) at the Bank of Ghana by July 2016.

This, he said, was after the union had written several letters including going on protest, to register their displeasure about the delay in transferring te Tier 2 pension fund.

“As at now, this part of the agreement has not been fulfilled by government," he said.

Mr Tenkorang stated that the union was worried because payment of Tier 2 Pension benefits would commence from January 2020, stressing that "what it, therefore, means is that as the deductions are not invested, the contributors will retire and will not benefit from the contributions so made.

"We are not apostles of doom, but we can predict that contributors will not have any benefits to collect despite the monthly deductions made from their salaries.

"We call on the government to submit an audited account of all monies lodged into the TPFA, arrears due and immediately pay October 5% deductions to the established and licensed Health Sector Occupational Pension Scheme to reduce the tension, suspicion and the name calling that their inaction is causing." he stated.

He cautioned of an unpleasant situation should their grievances remain unresolved in the shortest possible time,"and the general public should not blame us for being inconsiderate to the persons we render our services to."

Story By: Michael Creg Afful

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