The Chief Executive Officer of the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC), Mr. George Graham, has proposed the introduction of an hourly wage payment system across all sectors to improve fairness and transparency in compensation, particularly for casual workers.
He said such a policy could increase disposable income, formalize the informal labor market, and expand access to social protections, ultimately stimulating economic growth.
He made this proposal when the Parliamentary Select Committee on Employment, Labour Relations, and Pensions conducted a familiarization visit to key institutions, including the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC), National Pensions Regulatory Authority (NPRA), and the Management Development and Productivity Institute (MDPI).
At NPRA, officials discussed existing policies allowing individuals aged 50 and above who are permanently unemployed to access their tier-2 pension funds, contingent upon formal employer confirmation and Labour Department approval. Additionally, the CEO of NPRA, Chris Boadi-Mensah, suggested raising the retirement age from 60 to 65 to address pension sustainability concerns and prevent exploitation of the current system.
The Director General of MDPI, Professor Elijah Yendaw, highlighted the institute’s pressing challenges, including lack of office space and insufficient staff training. He stressed that with proper investment and support, MDPI, with its robust human resources and long-standing experience, could make significant contributions to national development goals.
The Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Joseph Appiah Boateng, explained that the visit aimed to assess the current operations of these agencies, identify areas requiring improvement, and contribute to formulating strategies to enhance service delivery and operational efficiency.
