Features
Minimum wage that cannot take the worker anywhere!
The National Tripartite Committee (NTC) recently announced an increase in the national daily minimum wage to GHc 12.53 which represents a four per cent increment on the 2020 figure of GHc 11.82. The increment followed a conclusion of negotiations on the determination of the National Daily Minimum Wage in respect of 2021 and 2022 at its meeting held on Thursday, June 3, 2021, in Accra.
The determination of the national minimum wage is in accordance with Section 113 (1) (a) of the Labour Act, 2003 (Act 651).
NATIONAL MINIMUM WAGE
At the end of that meeting, it was also agreed that for the year 2022, the national daily minimum wage would be pegged at GHc 13.53, a seven per cent increment on the 2021 figure.
The reason assigned to the current figures was that the NTC took into account the COVID-19 pandemic and its attendant hardships that strongly influenced the percentage increases in the salary adjustments.
“In determining the new rates, the NTC took into account the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the national economy, cost of living, sustainability of businesses and the desirability of attaining high level of employment,” it stated.The national minimum wage rate for 2021 which is tax exempt took effect from June 4, 2021.
DON’T USE COVID-19 AS AN EXCUSE
The Trades Union Congress (TUC), had early on, asked the government to stop using COVID-19 pandemic as an excuse and review the salaries of the workers upwards to help them deal with the recent economic hardships in the country.
Organised labour argument is that the recent fuel increments, coupled with the skyrocketing prices of goods and services, are taking a toll on the Ghanaian worker. They have pleaded with government to review workers’ salaries, as well as taxes to reduce their financial burden.
Indeed, times are hard and workers are justifiably right in asking for salary increases that will stand the test of time and support them to make ends meet with their families and other dependants. You cannot begrudge them. The workers are, indeed, not happy with the TUC for their stance in the recent salary negotiations, accusing the union of stabbing them at the back.
GLOBAL EMERGENCE OF MINIMUM WAGE
For the benefit of my readers and patrons, it is important to delve a bit into history of how this minimum wage came into being globally, vis- a- vis how some countries have managed to make their workers better using the National Minimum Wage formula.
The minimum wage concept was first introduced in New Zealand in 1984 and the Austrian State of Victoria in 1986. The motivation was to fight poverty among the working class, particularly the segment of the workers that was not covered by collective agreements and was vulnerable to low pay conditions. By close of 2016, about 160 economies of 189, had a minimum wage. Countries with national minimum wage include, United States of America (USA), South Korea, Spain, Portugal, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Benin, Botswana, Brazil, Burkina Faso among others.
THE WORK OF THE TRIPARTITE COMMITTEE
Over here in Ghana, the annual fixing of the minimum wage lies in the bosom of the Tripartite Committee made up of the government, employer and the worker. The committee is headed by the Minister of Employment and Social Welfare. The committee is established under section 112 of the Labour Law, Act 651 of 2003. Its core mandate is to review and adjust the minimum wage in line with the changes in the economic and social circumstances of the country including changes in the cost of living. This ensures that the minimum wage stays closer to the economic and social realities of the country. The minimum wage covers workers in all sectors of the economy.
It is unfortunate that despite annual adjustment, Ghana’s minimum wage is normally very low wage. The minimum wage has remained around US$ 2.00 a day for the past decade. It is also significant to note that increases in the minimum wage have always been below inflation rate and that has often led to decreases in real minimum wage.
It appears that the national institutions that have the mandate to enforce the minimum wage and other labour legislations are too weak to carry out their duties.
SIGNIFICANCE OF MINIMUM WAGE INTRODUCTION
When the minimum wage was introduced in the country in 1939, the major objective was to fight poverty among the working class. It was to ensure that people working on full time basis, could earn enough to enable them and their families to escape poverty. Thus, minimum wage increases are aimed at motivating workers to raise their effort levels and spur greater investments in human capital as well as boosting labour productivity.
Another major weakness in Ghana’s minimum wage is the lack of enforcement. This has resulted in high level of non-compliance. Enforcement is hampered by the failure of the state to resource the industrial relations institutions that are mandated to enforce the minimum wage and other labour legislations.
REPORTS OF ARTICLE 71 OFFICE HOLDERS EARNING FAT SALARIES
Currently there are allegations that while the average workers are being asked to tighten their belt by receiving as low as six per cent increment in their 2020 salaries for this year, Article 71 office holders who include the President and his Vice, the Speaker of Parliament, the Chief Justice and the Justices of the Supreme Court, Members of Parliament, Ministers of State, political appointees and public servants, are paying themselves fat salaries at the blind side of the workers. If that is the case as being peddled on social media, then that is most unfortunate and not healthy for this country.
The Tripartite Committee which sat and arrived at the six per cent increment use the COVID-19 pandemic which has affected the economy greatly as a yardstick for fixing the percentage increase and, therefore, that should be the overriding principle in the determination of the general salaries for this country. Besides, the Executive and ministers of state and other government functionaries are already earning good salaries with other service conditions that go with them. Therefore, giving themselves more salaries is not in the best interest of a country such as Ghana which is facing a lot of challenges with the economy.
FREEZE ON SALARY INCREMENTS FOR EXECUTIVE, OTHERS
The President must give true meaning to his recent announcement that he has put a freeze on salary increments for himself, the Vice President, ministers of state and all other appointees of the Executive as a way of appreciating the plight of Ghanaians in the wake of the negative economic impact of the pandemic.
Indeed, the workers are suffering and the recent four per cent increase in their salaries is nothing good to sustain them, especially when most of them have other dependants and families to cater for. This is the time for the Trades Union Congress (TUC) and other organised labour unions to team up and fight for the rights of workers. Money being spent aimlessly on unnecessary projects at this point in time needs to be channeled to improve the welfare of workers who are toiling day and night with their sweat to build this nation.
Contact email/WhatsApp of author:
By: Charles Neequaye
Features
Preventing the brain’s melting point with BOS
The human brain is a complex and delicate organ, susceptible to damage from various factors, including extreme temperatures.
The brain’s melting point, also known as the temperature threshold beyond which brain tissue begins to degrade, is a critical concern for individuals seeking to maintain optimal cognitive function.
Fortunately, the Brain Operating System (BOS) offers a revolutionary solution to prevent the brain’s melting point.
Understanding the brain’s melting point
The brain’s melting point refers to the temperature threshold beyond which brain tissue begins to degrade, leading to irreversible damage.
This temperature threshold varies depending on individual factors, such as age, health, and environmental conditions. However, research suggests that the brain’s melting point is approximately 104°F (40°C) to 107°F (42°C).
The role of BOS in preventing the brain’s melting point
BOS, a cutting-edge technology, plays a crucial role in preventing the brain’s melting point. By leveraging advanced neural interfaces and artificial intelligence, BOS monitors and regulates brain temperature, ensuring that it remains within a safe range.
How BOS prevents the brain’s melting point
BOS prevents the brain’s melting point through several mechanisms:
1. Temperature regulation: BOS continuously monitors brain temperature, adjusting neural activity to maintain a stable temperature.
2. Heat dissipation: BOS enhances heat dissipation through increased blood flow and sweating.
3. Neuro protection: BOS protects neurons from heat-induced damage.
Benefits of BOS in preventing the brain’s melting point
The benefits of BOS in preventing the brain’s melting point are numerous:
1. Prevents brain damage: BOS prevents brain damage caused by excessive heat.
2. Maintains cognitive function: BOS ensures optimal cognitive function by maintaining stable brain temperature.
3. Enhances brain resilience: BOS enhances brain resilience to temperature fluctuations.
Real-World applications of BOS
BOS has various real-world applications:
1. High-performance computing: BOS enables high-performance computing by maintaining optimal brain temperature.
2. Medical applications: BOS has medical applications, such as treating heat-related illnesses.
3. Space exploration: BOS is crucial for space exploration, where extreme temperatures pose a significant risk.
Conclusion
BOS is a revolutionary technology that prevents the brain’s melting point, ensuring optimal cognitive function and overall well-being. By leveraging advanced neural interfaces and artificial intelligence, BOS monitors and regulates brain temperature, protecting against heat-related damage.
Glossary:
1. BOS: Brain Operating System.
2. Brain’s melting point: Temperature threshold beyond which brain tissue begins to degrade.
3. Neural interface: Connects human brain with digital devices.
Contact Information
virginvtech@yahoo.com
Additional resources:
1. BOS research: Explore scientific studies.
2. Neural interface resources: Discover books and articles.
3. Brain-computer interface communities: Join online forums.
Future directions
As BOS technology continues to evolve, we can expect:
1. Improved temperature regulation: Enhanced temperature regulation mechanisms.
2. Increased cognitive enhancement: Advanced cognitive enhancement capabilities.
3. Expanded applications: New applications in various fields.
By harnessing the power of BOS, individuals can safeguard their brain health and maintain optimal cognitive function, even in extreme environments.
By Robert Ekow Grimmond-Thompson
Features
Lotto wahala and Tuobodom palaver
In Sikaman lotto is not a game. It is a profession, a noble career which people aspire to. It is the highest paying profession after armed robbery and the most widespread job on this side of the Atlantic.
In places like China, lotto is a disease that has no cure. Once you are infected, no doctor on earth can cure you. May be Kofi Larteh, Ghana’s most celebrated magician, can help ease the symptoms, but no definitive cure will be forthcoming.
Coming back to Sikaman, lotto has been the financial messiah of many. That is how people look after their large families, pay school fees, marry two wives and do their own ‘monkey things.’
If you are very poor and you win a lottery, chances are that you will die before you even collect the money. You’ll die out of excitement or you’ll start day-dreaming in the streets and an articulated truck will hit you.
As such, very heavy wins are not recommended for poor people, lest they get listed too soon in the obituary columns.
The sad story is told of a heavy-duty caterpillar driver who had a very heavy lotto windfall of several millions, his first big win after several years.
CATERPILLAR
He was driving the caterpillar home when he saw his son running towards him, shouting. “All your numbers have dropped! All your numbers have dropped! He could not believe his ears.
All the four numbers he had staked had dropped and his son, who had gone to stake them for him, was himself over-excited. The poor caterpillar man just could not handle the good news. He suddenly stepped on the brakes and the caterpillar jolted him a trifle too violently, throwing him off. He landed right in front of the still moving heavy-duty machine and it crushed him flat.
I don’t think the bloke would have died if he had won a smaller amount. Sometimes too much cash is not good for the health.
Seldom, people get too confident and that can also result in a wake-keeping, like that of a man who used his lifetime savings and borrowed extra money to crack the machine with a two-sure that the compiler must compulsory drop or the world will end.
Even the shadows of the numbers or their counterparts were nowhere near the winning numbers. His shock-absorbers crumbled under the weight of the heavy disappointment. He crashed to the floor and started foaming at the mouth. He was declared dead on arrival at the nearest clinic.
WINDFALL
Recently, there was a countrywide lotto windfall, and in Kumasi it was more than a festival. Most stakers had between ¢30m and ¢40 million on two-sure that the lotto magicians had predicted at least three weeks earlier,
Kejetia chop bars were besieged with overnight millionaires, carrying huge appetites induced by Opeimu Bitters popularly called Opeimu Peters. All the meat and mudfish got sold out within an hour and procurement agents had to double up to restock.
While some were celebrating, others were weeping and gnashing teeth. The problem was that, three weeks beforehand, the two sure numbers were declared by all the lotto sorcerers, dreamers, magicians, tellers and all the self-appointed and self-promoted forecasters.
Everybody including 10-year-olds, who staked and lost. The following week, they were advised to continue staking. The faithful did continue but the faithless stopped. All of them lost. In the third week or so, a good number of confident stakers had lost faith in the two numbers. That was when the number landed.
So the windfall was for only those who had the unshakeable faith in the numbers. See what faith can do? It can move dollars. Don’t waver, so saith the holy scriptures.
The faithless indeed gnashed teeth. The winners on the other hand celebrated with a song that is as controversial as the business of lotto. It is a song played by the group called Nkasei and has something to do with a town in the Brong Ahafo Region called Tuobodom whose capital we hear is Jinijini.
I hear it is a derogatory song and the queen mother of Tuobodom got charged and breathed out electric current during her protest on air. She allegedly ended up demanding a mobile phone from Nkasei so that she could communicate with them to settle the matter peacefully, lest wahala.
Well, the song is rising up the charts and Nkasei are making the dough, but should it be at the expense of a whole townsfolk, their forebears and generations to come?
WATERPROOF
Waterproof, the famous comedian, was allegedly given hefty slaps at the Kumasi rail station by some Frafra jingoists who felt he was deriding their tribe. And Bob Okala had to run with his tail between his legs when he was confronted and realised that slaps were going to be visited on his lean face.
Let’s not use words and lyrics to cause discomfort to others.
This article was first published on Saturday July 9, 2005
