Ghana’s labour and pension systems may be headed for significant reform following new proposals made by top officials during a working visit by the Parliamentary Select Committee on Employment, Labour Relations and Pensions.
The Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC), Dr George Smith-Graham, has proposed a bold shift from the traditional monthly pay system to an hourly wage structure across all sectors.
This, he believes, will improve the incomes of casual workers and bring more fairness into the nation’s wage regime.
“It’s time we start looking at hourly wages as a serious policy shift. Casual workers deserve to be paid for the actual time they put in,” Dr Smith-Graham said on Friday, May 16, 2025.
He made the call during the Committee’s familiarisation visit to the FWSC, the National Pensions Regulatory Authority (NPRA), and the Management Development and Productivity Institute (MDPI).
According to Dr Smith-Graham, introducing an hourly wage structure will not only compensate informal and part-time workers more accurately but also inject fairness and transparency into how pay is calculated.
“This is not just about money. It’s about fairness. It’s about giving workers the dignity of knowing exactly how their wages are calculated,” he added.
His comments come at a time when income inequality and rising cost of living continue to affect many low-income earners in Ghana, particularly those in casual and short-term employment arrangements.
