The President of the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), Angel Carbonou, says current economic conditions will heavily influence labour’s demands in the upcoming public sector base pay negotiations.
Speaking on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem, Mr. Carbonou said labour unions are approaching the talks with full awareness of the financial constraints facing both government and workers.
He stressed that the negotiations must be completed before the 2026 budget is presented to Parliament later this month.
“The process is a negotiation, not an imposition,” he said. “Government will bring its proposal, labour will present its position, and we’ll consider factors like inflation, rent, tariffs, and taxes. Even though inflation is said to be in single digits, prices remain unbearable.”
Mr. Carbonou added that labour’s position will also reflect the need to absorb newly trained professionals into the public sector.
“We’ll consider the recruitment of nurses, teacher trainees, and graduates who have completed school but are still unemployed. Labour wants our young ones to be employed too,” he noted.
He emphasized that any new pay agreement should take effect from January 1, 2026.
While acknowledging slight improvements in economic indicators, the NAGRAT president maintained that the cost of living remains high, reducing the real value of salaries.
“Workers are struggling. Rent, utility tariffs, and the unstable cedi continue to erode incomes,” he said.
Mr. Carbonou concluded that labour’s approach will be fair and collaborative, focusing on both worker welfare and national development.
“No negotiation ends with one side getting everything,” he remarked. “The goal is to find common ground that benefits both the workforce and the country.”
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