Labour Ministry calls for stronger retirement protection for health workers

*Labour Ministry Calls For Stronger Retirement Protection For Health Workers*

*Kumasi —* The Ministry of Labour, Jobs and Employment has called for stronger retirement protection for health workers, stressing that their welfare must go beyond salaries and conditions of service to include secure pension benefits.

The Ministry said nurses, midwives, doctors, pharmacists and other health professionals deserve financial security after years of service, given the demanding nature of their work.

The call was made on behalf of the Minister for Labour, Jobs and Employment by the Ministry’s Director of Research, Shadrack Mensah, at the 4th Annual General Meeting of the Health Sector Occupational Pension Scheme in Kumasi on Monday, October 19.

Mr. Mensah underscored the need for sound management of pension funds to safeguard workers’ savings and guarantee dignity in retirement.

He noted that while pension funds can be used to support productive investment and national development, such investments must not put workers’ retirement savings at risk.

“While pension funds can support productive investment and national development, such opportunities must never compromise the security of workers’ retirement savings. Development objectives and pension protection must reinforce one another, not compete,” he said.

He added that the welfare of health workers should also include occupational safety, career progression and social protection, in recognition of their contribution to healthcare delivery nationwide.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Health Sector Occupational Pension Scheme said plans are underway to streamline and automate the payment of pension benefits to reduce delays.

The move is expected to improve efficiency and enable members to access their retirement entitlements more quickly.