The Ghana Medical Association says its members will be compelled to work at reduced hours if they are not paid what they deserve.

This caution follows comments made by the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC), George Smith Graham to the effect that, payment of market premium is the discretion of the employer but not an entitlement of the worker.

Mr. Graham was speaking on the Joy FM's Super Morning Show on Monday regarding ongoing appraisal of the single pay policy which is likely to result in a review of current market premiums being enjoyed by some category of labour unions.

Market Premium is a monetary incentive paid to critical skills in short supply within an economy. This is to attract and retain such skills for which the public services have to compete with the private sector. 

The Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) has just begun a survey on market premiums and this is expected to end by January 2014, after which the FWSC will commence the analysis process, Mr. Graham stated.

According to him, when the new pay policy is enrolled, some labour unions may either experience a drop in their current market premiums or have it totally scrapped, based on the exigency of their skills.

"At the end of the day it is something that the employer will have to determine; it is not an entitlement of an employee...Once the survey says you don't deserve it [market premium] you either won't get it or [you] get a reduction".

But the GMA, which has been at loggerheads with the FWSC over payment of market premium for its members, is not enthused at the comments by Mr. Graham.

"Work will also be at the discretion of the worker; if you pay me at your discretion I can also work at my discretion," the GMA president, Dr. Kwabena Adusei-Opoku retorted while answering a question posed by Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, host of the Super Morning Show.

Dr. Adusei-Opoku accused the FWSC of acting unilaterally in taking decisions without adequately involving stakeholders . He said: "It is not the colonial way of saying you are the worker; I pay you this take it or leave it.

"They [FWSC] are always on the airwaves talking...instead of sitting down at the boardroom and work and put things at rest.

"The Fair Wages and Salaries Commission cannot create its own definition outside government white paper; they cannot do that," the GMA president warned.