36 workers’ unions submit their cases for neutrality allowance

As the Civil and Local Government Staff Association of Ghana (CLOSAG) continue to push for the neutrality allowance, 36 organizations under the Public Service Workers Union  (PSWU ) have also tabled their demand for neutrality allowance for its qualified members.

They are calling for urgent action for the allowance to be paid after a similar call by some public sector workers under the Civil and Local Government Service Staff, CLOGSAG.

The  PSWU maintained that “it is pertinent to state that the grant of such allowance to a section of the workforce to the neglect of others in the same or similar category will defeat the underlining principles of Salary Administration in Ghana.”

The Neutrality Allowance issues strongly came up for public discussion following the industrial action by the Civil and Local Government Staff Association, Ghana (CLOGSAG), following the government’s failure to pay them as agreed. 

PSWU is strongly basing its demands on the grounds of the constitution and enabling Acts and laws that require them to be politically neutral. 

“At our last National Executive Council (NEC) Meeting held in Kumasi in March 2022, members resolved to bring the request to the attention of the state for urgent consideration. We, therefore, call for urgent engagement on the matter. While we anticipate your favourable response, be assured of our availability for necessary engagement to avoid any unintended industrial disharmony”, the statement added.

The said allowance is to ensure that civil and local government workers do not engage in partisanship while conducting their affairs when they are in their various offices.

They are paid such an allowance to make sure that they discharge their duties professionally without getting involved in partisan activities.

While others argue that the government yielding to this demand will open the floodgate for other organizations to claim allowances from the state, others are of the view that such an allowance is important to keep civil and local government workers away from serving based on their political interests.

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