The Public Services Workers’ Union (PSWU) of Trades Union Congress (TUC), Ghana, has launched a PSWU Fund and a Mutual Health Insurance Scheme (MHIS) to cater for the health needs of its members and to support them financially.
The Mutual Health Insurance Scheme will cover critical illnesses, like cancer-related diseases, stroke, kidney and heart related terminal diseases. The Fund is also expected to also support members by providing them with soft loans at low interest rates while in service and upon their retirement.
Mr Ken Twenebuah Kodua, the National Chairperson of PSWU, during a National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Kumasi, indicated that the move forms part of its social protection initiatives for members of the Union.
The NEC afforded participants, including divisional, regional and national officers of the PSWU across its 10 administrative regions, the opportunity to discuss the state of the economy and salary issues as well as update of the last National Labour Conference.
Categories of the Scheme
Mr Kodua mentioned that the scheme has been categorized into critical illness Fund, hospitalization cover, Retiree Medical cover, which is optional for members, and a medical insurance cover.
Mr Kodua thus, predicted that “this enhanced health care would reduce the burden of members.”
Mr. Bernard Adjei, General Secretary of PSWU, averred that the scheme would give members the peace of mind and save them from the hassle they go through seeking for financial help in their critical moments. He noted that the health scheme is to be managed and provided by the Nationwide Mutual Health Insurance Company Limited.
Mr. Adjei urged all members to get enrolled on the schemes so they could benefit from the two initiatives that came about after a broad consultation among members and hard work of its leaders.
Mr Adjei, on the other hand, asked the PSWU members to come together to push for a common goal of all workers in the public sector. This, he said, is the only way to improve the lives of its members.
Nana Awuah-Ampem II, Group Chairman, Nationwide Mutual Health Insurance, Co. Ltd, assured the PSWU of the company’s determination to offer quality and excellent services to the members.
TUC Commends PSWU
Mr. Joshua Ansah, Deputy Secretary General of TUC, commended the PSWU for coming out with such laudable initiatives and expressed the support of the Congress towards the schemes. He assured members that this year’s May Day celebrations would be openly marked across the country, as in previous years before the coming of COVID-19 so that organised labour could come out to air their concerns.
“We would mark this year’s May Day celebration in style as it was hampered by COVID in the past few years. Everyone is expected to bring their concerns to be addressed. Our members are priorities and we shall do everything to protect. ”
Mr. Joshua Ansah
Meanwhile, the over 150 delegates of the PSWU who attended the two-day conference were taken through topics like ‘Pensions School: Calculating Your Pensions,’ ‘Analysing Wages in Ghana and Labour’s Response,’ as well as ‘Cyber Security and Digital Parenting,’ among others.
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