Government will implement the single spine salary structure effective from January next year. This follows a white paper issued by government on Thursday to confirm the implementation date. The white paper gives a six months period during which changes will be effected due to what government calls some outstanding issues. Addressing a press conference the Information Minister, Zita Okaikoi said the implementation of the policy is a demonstration of government’s commitment towards improving the welfare of public workers in the country. It will however take five years for the full phase of the policy to be implemented. George Smith Graham, CEO of the Fair Wages Commission told Joy News the single spine salary structure will determine the true worth of a public sector worker. He said the salary structure will unify all public sector workers and place them under a vertical and incremental pay point structure. According to him, all public workers have their jobs evaluated and will get salaries commensurate to the value of their jobs. He explained that workers who earn salaries lower than what they are supposed to will have their salaries upgraded. On the other hand, those who earn more than what they are supposed to will remain on the same grade for a period. This is to check salary distortions. In all there are 25 salary levels inherent in the single spine salary structure. He said his outfit is currently engaging institutions who have concerns with new salary structure and will address them appropriately. Meanwhile, General Secretary of the Trades Union Congress Mr Kofi Asamoah declined detailed comment on the matter saying he is yet to read full details of the white paper. Story by Nathan Gadugah/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana