Government approves 10% salary increase for public sector worker

The government has announced a 10% salary increase for public sector workers, effective January 1. The decision came after President John Mahama negotiated with labour unions. Stay tuned for more updates.

The Government of Ghana has officially approved a 10% salary increase for public sector workers under the Single Spine Salary Structure (SSSS) for the 2025 fiscal year.

Meanwhile, the National Tripartite Committee has also agreed to a 10 percent adjustment for the daily minimum wage.

According to the agreement signed on February 20, 2025, between the government—represented by the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC), Ministry of Labour, Jobs and Employment (MLJE), and the Ministry of Finance (MoF)—and Organized Labour, the increment will be effective from January 1, 2025, and will run until December 2025.

This agreement follows negotiations between the Public Services Joint Standing Negotiating Committee (PSJSNC) and key stakeholders, including workers’ unions and public service institutions.

 

The 10% salary adjustment was formally agreed upon and signed by:

✅ Ing. Benjamin Arthur – Chief Executive, Fair Wages and Salaries Commission
✅ Bro. Joshua Ansah – Secretary-General, TUC
✅ Hon. Dr. Abdul-Rashid Hassan Pelpuo (MP) – Minister for Labour, Jobs and Employment
✅ Dr. Isaac Bampoe Addo – Chairman, FORUM
✅ Hon. Dr. Cassiel Ato Baah Forson (MP) – Minister of Finance

 

Initially, the Finance Minister, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, tabled an eight per cent increase, which prompted organized labour to reduce their demand from 60 to 35 per cent.

This led both parties to adopt entrenched positions, resulting in President John Dramani Mahama joining the meeting on Thursday, February 20.

President Mahama convinced organized labour to accept a 10 per cent increase and assured them of better days ahead.

After the president left the meeting, the Sector Minister for Labour, Jobs, and Employment, Dr. Rashid Pelpuo, announced the base pay.

“The public standing joint negotiation committee has concluded negotiations for the 2025 Single Spine Salary Structure base pay. It is agreed on, that the Single Spine Salary Structure has been increased by 10 percent across the board from January 1, 2025, to December 2025,” he stated.

The Minister of Finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, pleaded with organized labour to consider the government’s efforts in reviving the economy to meet their needs.

”To labour, we know we are in this together; everyone deserves a living wage, a wage that will encourage them to be able to survive and take care of their children.”

“Labour has gone through a lot, obviously, with the Ghanaian economy, but then again, we recognize this year is a year that all of us must sacrifice. I thank labour for sacrificing,” he said.

Later, the Minister of Labour, Jobs, and Employment announced the national daily minimum wage.

”In determining the 2025 daily minimum wage, the national tripartite committee took into account challenges such as cost of living, the desirability of the higher level of employment, and the increase of daily minimum wage by 10 per cent, representing 19 points 97 pesewas.”.

This increment comes after a 23% salary increase in 2024, which was implemented to cushion workers against the rising cost of living and economic challenges.

The new agreement is expected to bring some financial relief to public sector employees as they navigate economic conditions in 2025.