Workers Call For The Implementation Of Second Tier Pension Scheme

The Eastern Regional Council of the Health Services Workers� Union has called on the government to order the Controller and Accountant General to transfer five percent of the 18.5 per cent of the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) contribution of its members to the custodian accounts established for the operation of the second tier system of the pension scheme. The Council said leadership of the Union should not be blamed for any industrial disharmony if they are unable to control the anger of its members. This was contained in a statement read by the Eastern Regional Industrial Relations Officer, Mr Emmanuel Sarkodie Boateng at a press conference organized by the Union at Koforidua. The Union threatened that it would resist any attempt by the government to impose the Pension Trust on their members. The Union explained that by the Pension Act 766 of 2008, from January 2015, workers on pension would no longer be receiving lump sum of money from the SSNIT Pension Scheme which would only be responsible for the payment of the monthly pension payment. The Union said the lump sum was supposed to be paid from the second tier pension scheme for which the Union had established one for the workers in the health services. The Union said though it had established the fund for the running of the second tier as by law required, the percentage of health worker pension which had to be transferred to the account was not being done. The Union said its greatest worry was that by January next year some workers would be going on retirement and how those workers could receive their funds under the second tier system was a challenge.