The Chief Economist and Director of the Labour Research and Policy Institute of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) says the Congress is expecting government to increase wages in the course of the coming month.

According to Dr Kwabena Nyarko Otoo, the Union’s expectations are occasioned by the rapid inflation in the country as a result of the effects of the coronavirus pandemic and its attendant restrictions on the economy.

Speaking on JoyNews’ Newsfile Saturday, Dr Otoo who was commenting on the additional taxes introduced by government in the recent Budget Statemen said, “Even without the taxes, the expectation is that wages will go up.

“Of course you realise that because of Covid, inflation actually rose beyond what was projected and there are various reports of price increases across board. So workers expectantly were looking for a wage increase.”

He stated that should workers be taxed without increasing their wages, it was going to make their livelihood worse.

He was hopeful that President Akufo-Addo’s declaration that workers’ wages were not frozen was indicative of a wage increment in the coming month.

“Now if you don’t find that wage increase in the budget but on top of it you find these taxes, then you actually make our situation worse. 

"What will happen is that we take the president’s word for what it is that he has not frozen wages, and we expect that in the course of this month or the coming month, the various forums will be convened, the public sector standing joint will be convened and also the tripartite will be convened for a major discussion on this issue.

“But ultimately we expect that given all that has happened to workers, and to businesses, we expect a wage increase for 2021 and beyond,” he said.