GHANA:Gov’t suspends payment of salaries via e-zwich after protests

Government has suspended the implementation of a payment schedule for public sector workers via the e-zwich payment platform.

The Ministry of Finance had served notice to use the platform as payment module for some public sector workers, but the notice was rejected by twelve public sector unions who argued that they were not consulted before the decision was taken.

The unions also contend that the e-zwich payment system is dysfunctional and not easily accessible, and thus cannot be a medium for the payment of salaries.

Speaking to Citi News, the Vice President of the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), Angel Carbonu, said the unions would continue to fight against the payment plan.

Workers should be given options 

According to him, there is nothing wrong with the e-zwich platform but the workers should be given the right to choose their own mode of payment.

“We protested on the basis that e-zwich, though it may be good, should not be made compulsory. So it should be optional. Based on that protest, the government suspended the implementation of the policy.”

Mr. Carbonu also indicated that his union will continue to fight the seemingly imposition of the ezwich payment platform until it is scrapped completely.

“So for now, as far as I am concerned, the policy is suspended. Our position has not changed. Our position remains that e-zwich is a money card…Yes we support the Idea and the principle that we should make our country a cashless society, but we do not impose one platform on people. There should be options.”

Teachers ‘reject’ payment of salaries via E-zwich 

The Coalition of Concerned Teachers (CCT), had earlier warned of labour unrest if the Controller and Accountant General’s Department goes ahead to approve the use of the e-zwich platform to pay teachers.

According to CCT, the E-zwich payment system is fraught with technical challenges which make it difficult for teachers already on it to access their salaries.

SOURCE:GHANAWEB