Conditions of service across public sectors will not be fully renegotiated in 2026 – Mahama to Organised Labour.
President John Mahama has announced that a full renegotiation of conditions of service within the public sector will not take place in 2026, as government advances broader reforms aimed at reshaping the national salary system.
Speaking at a meeting with Organised Labour on Tuesday, March 17, at the Jubilee House, the President emphasised that the decision is intended to promote fiscal discipline while laying a strong and stable foundation for a more structured, fair, and sustainable long-term pay system that supports economic stability and ensures consistency in public sector salary arrangements.
He noted that rather than engaging in wide-ranging negotiations, government will introduce targeted and modest adjustments, focusing mainly on selected allowances as a temporary measure to address immediate needs.
According to him, this approach is necessary to support macroeconomic stability, ensure realistic expectations, and create room for the implementation of long-term structural reforms within the salary framework.
The President further stated that the initiative forms part of a larger policy direction aimed at replacing the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission with an Independent Emoluments Commission. This reform is expected to help address longstanding disparities in public sector salary arrangements.
He assured labour representatives that the decision does not signal a halt in engagement, but rather a strategic effort to strengthen the underlying structure of the salary system in the interest of all stakeholders.
President Mahama reaffirmed government’s commitment to continuous consultation with labour unions as the reforms are gradually implemented.
Ultimately, the objective is to establish a transparent, fair, and sustainable salary system that reflects productivity while aligning with the country’s long-term development priorities.