The Director of the Labour Research and Policy Institute of the Trades Union Congress (TUC), says Organised Labour is not being oblivious to the economic difficulties faced by government.

Dr Kwabena Nyarko Otoo stressed that the Union’s current demand for a 60 percent increase in base pay, is because they are also aware of the plight of their workers as a result of the current economic hardships.

“We are not oblivious. We are fully aware of what’s happening in this country, and across the world. We are fully aware that today, it costs more to put food on your table for yourself and your family,” he said on JoyNews’ Newsfile on Saturday.

He added that people are quick to point out the insensitive nature of their demand without taking into consideration the household deficits of their workers compared to their salaries.

“Many people talking about wages and the economy, don’t talk about these household issues. We talk about the budget deficit that has been presented… But what about household deficits?

“What workers require to be able to provide basic living for themselves and their families, compared to their earnings, is woefully inadequate,” he told host, Samuel Lardy Anyenini.

According to Dr. Otoo, the household deficit that is less spoken about is more serious than the government deficit in the budget.

He stated that their demand to the government is in the best interest of their workers; therefore, what they require of the government is to ensure that the massive drops in earnings cease.

“What we are simply saying is that just restore; just make sure that the massive declines in earnings actually stop. We don’t want those massive declines to continue in 2023,” he said.