Labour consultant Austin Gamey has sharply criticized Ghana’s long-standing practice of applying uniform salary increases, describing the system as outdated and unfair.
Speaking on Morning Starr with Joshua Kodjo Mensah, Mr. Gamey said the “across-the-board” pay structure undermines productivity and fails to reward employees according to their performance.
“Let me just use this word just for the sake of clarity, not intended to hurt anybody. It is uncivilized to be paying people across the board. It’s not proper. It’s a disgrace. It’s a very bad practice. It doesn’t speak well of the people who are either hard-working and the average worker and the lazy worker,” he said.
Mr. Gamey stressed that salary increases should reflect productivity levels rather than treating all employees the same.
“There are people like that across the world. And that’s why you pay people based on productivity. And that’s the truth of what our labor law represents. Unfortunately, for well over 20 years, indeed, long, the labor law came into effect. We should have been doing what we are talking about now. We’ve refused to do it,” he added.
He also referred to recent government statements about piloting a productivity-based system by 2026.
“I’ve heard that President spoke about it recently, that by 2026, there will be a pilot. We will have to do it. We all know that we shouldn’t pay people across the board. It’s an unfair reflection of the nation. So, if we can do that, then workers can be paid, let’s say, a 12 percent for the best worker,” he explained.
Mr. Gamey’s comments come after the signing of a new wage agreement under the Public Services Joint Standing Negotiating Committee (PSJSNC) on Sunday, November 9, 2025, which raises the Single Spine Salary Structure (SSSS) by 9% for 2026, effective January to December.
Some labour unions, however, have rejected the increment, insisting on their earlier demand for a 20% raise.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh
