The Ministry of Labour and Employment Relations (MLER), through the Fair Wages Commission, has scheduled a crucial meeting with the leadership of the Colleges of Education Teachers Association Ghana (CETAG) and other key stakeholders, today Monday, August 19.
The meeting aims to address the pressing concerns of CETAG members, who have been on a nationwide strike for the past two months, leading to a complete halt in academic activities at all 46 Colleges of Education across the country.
Stakeholders expected to attend the meeting include the President of CETAG, representatives from the Ministry of Finance, the Director of Tertiary Education from the Ministry of Education, Principals of Colleges of Education (PRINCOF), the Director General of the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC), and the Head of the Public Financial Management Unit (CPMU).
Read also: CETAG declares indefinite strike; 46 public colleges to suffer
On June 14, teachers in the various colleges of education laid down their tools, demanding better working conditions and remuneration packages.
This was in response to the government’s delay in implementing the National Labour Commission’s (NLC) Arbitral Award Orders and negotiated service conditions.
CETAG’s demands include the payment of one month’s salary to each member for additional duties performed in 2022, and the application of agreed rates of allowances payable to public universities to deserving CETAG members.
This strike has affected all 46 public colleges of education nationwide.
According to the leadership of CETAG, the strike aims to put pressure on the government to fulfill these commitments.
Due to this strike, the academic calendar has been interrupted and students are waiting anxiously for the resumption of classes.
The National Labour Commission (NLC) secured an interlocutory injunction to halt the ongoing strike by CETAG.
Despite an NLC directive on June 20 to end the strike, CETAG continued, leading to a hearing where the Commission announced plans to sue the government to enforce the arbitral award in CETAG’s favour.