The Trades Union Congress (TUC) has given government a four day ultimatum to increase the minimum wage or face its wrath.

The Union says it will advise itself if negotiations on the increment of the minimum wage are not concluded before May 1.

Addressing workers in Tema, the TUC Secretary General, Kofi Asamoah demanded that all negotiations on the minimum wage and the base pay must be completed before the May Day celebration.

He said “we are sending a strong signal out there. We cannot afford this high cost of living with the current wages and salaries.”

He was speaking at a symposium organized by the Tema District Council of labour as part of activities marking May Day.

According to the GNA, Mr. Asamoah accused government of presenting strange figures on the wage bill to discourage the clamour for pay increase after causing the rise in the cost of virtually all goods and services in the country.

He said the union is aware that in 2009 before the implementation of the Single Spine Pay policy, government’s wage bill was 53.2 per cent of its total revenue.

 He adds that this year, after the single spine, it is 58.7 per cent, noting that to end the debate about the impact of the wage bill on government’s revenue mobilization and expenditure, government must disaggregate the figures on compensation including those of the Article 71 office holders.

He challenged workers to unite in order to avoid politicians breaking their fronts.

It is unclear what action the TUC plans to take if government fails to conclude negotiations and increase the minimum wage by Thursday.