Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie
Junior staff under the National Youth Employment Programme of the Forestry Commission in Koforidua, the Eastern regional capital, have threatened to embark on a demonstration in the coming days if government fails to pay their allowances.
The Forestry Commission has slashed the allowances of the staff of the Youth In Afforestation programme.
The allowances of supervisors, who are graduates, have been reduced from GH¢1,200 to GH¢700 per month, while HND holders, who were initially earning GH¢800 as deputy supervisors, would now take home GH¢700 every month.
The allowances of staff with WASSCE certificates remained unchanged at GH¢400.
According to the employers, government signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to pay degree holders GH¢1,200 while HND supervisors were to receive GH¢800 but management had failed to give them the agreed amount of monies.
The angry staff, who expressed their grievances on Brty fm, Koforidua-based radio station, explained that their four months’ arrears had not been paid despite several appeals.
They, however appealed to Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Forestry Commission, to address all the issues or else they would embark on massive demonstration.
Meanwhile, the revised wages are to take effect from 1st October, 2018.
From Daniel Bampoe, Koforidua