2026 Salary Negotiations Near Final Stage: What Public Sector Workers Should Expect
Organized Labour Pushes for Over 50% Salary Increase as 2026 Negotiations Near Completion
Reliable updates from Ghana Education News reveal that organized labour is demanding over a 50% increase in salaries for public sector workers, as ongoing negotiations with the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) progress. These talks are expected to conclude by the end of August 2025.
Despite the unions' strong push, the FWSC has urged organized labour to revise their expectations and adopt a more moderate stance. The Commission has encouraged dialogue that takes into account the current economic climate and broader fiscal implications.
Earlier this year, the government—through the FWSC—approved a 10% salary adjustment for over 700,000 public sector workers under the Single Spine Salary Structure. This decision followed a meeting with President John Dramani Mahama and the salary review committee. However, the outcome left many labour representatives dissatisfied, describing the increment as insufficient in light of rising living costs.
Sources close to the negotiations confirm that organized labour is now pressing for a more significant adjustment. As a result, fresh negotiations over the national minimum wage are also expected to begin soon.
Dr. Smith Graham, CEO of the FWSC, emphasized the need for constructive discussions. He noted that while public discussions have mentioned a 50% demand, no formal proposal has been submitted yet. He assured that the Commission is open to all proposals and committed to reaching a consensus by the close of the month.
Meanwhile, the Minister for Labour, Employment and Jobs, Dr. Rashid Pelpuo, has appealed to labour unions to maintain calm during the negotiation process. He stressed that the government is taking into account various economic factors—including inflation, the performance of the cedi, and cost of living changes—in determining a fair outcome for all parties involved.
Dr. Pelpuo noted, “We are aware of the urgency. We aim to finalize negotiations before January and will ensure all economic indicators and workers’ realities are duly considered.”
Beyond immediate wage talks, calls have intensified for the establishment of an Independent Emoluments Commission. According to Dr. Graham, this body could help address long-standing pay disparities and reduce future labour unrest.
He explained that once established, the Commission will support a holistic review of the Single Spine Salary Structure and provide a more sustainable framework for determining public sector salaries. He added that the constitutional nature of the Commission would ensure fairness and remove external influence from wage discussions, especially concerning Article 71 office holders.
In a related development, the Minister for Labour has inaugurated a new board for the FWSC. The new board is expected to enhance collaboration between government and labour unions, creating a more transparent and structured approach to wage negotiations going forward.
As talks continue, public sector workers and the wider labour community await the outcome with keen interest, hopeful for a resolution that reflects the current economic realities and sustains industrial harmony.
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