Government has announced an increase in the minimum wage by 16.7 percent. The daily minimum wage has now been pegged at GHc7 from GHc6.

The increment takes a retrospective effect from January 1, 2015.

The decision was arrived at after the National Tripartite Committee comprising government, organized labour and the Ghana Employers Association concluded the week-long negotiation today.

Representatives of government, labour and employers appended their signatures to signify their agreement to a “manageable” one Ghana cedi increment.

Employment and Labour Relations Minister Haruna Iddrisu disclosed to Joy Business last week that government wascollaborating with organized labour to ensure whatever was agreed upon is manageable for the wage bill.

“My expectation is for us to conclude negotiations on the base pay and minimum wage before the end of January for us to be able to pay January salaries within the agreed and approved wage,” he stated.

To avoid the tension and hostility that heralded last year’s base pay, which dragged for months, government Tuesday increased the base pay on the Single Spine Salary Structure by 13 percent.