The NABCO Trainees Association of Ghana (NABTAG), has called on government to make payment of its eight months unpaid allowances before YouStart commences.

According to the Association, it is utterly displeased about the situation and seeks to apprise government of the “horrible state of affairs” gripping NABCO trainees. This, it explained, is erupting out of the unpaid allowances, “much less the unspecified arrangement for trainees’ absorption” into sustainable jobs.

Contained in a statement signed by the national President of NABTAG, Dennic Opoku Katakyie, it revealed that the operational mechanism of the scheme, as long as acquisition of job readiness skills and experience are concerned, objectively qualifies members to commend government for envisioning the initiative. However, the Association indicated that the prevailing circumstances concerning trainees welfare “do not cast a bright image over our prospect”.

“It does not send the right signal when you have not paid NABCO trainees for the past eight (8) months, which has plunged them into severe hardship, but readying for the launch of YouStart. What positive assurance can that serve to inform the public on the outlook of the YouStart?”
NABTAG

NABTAG iterated that since the directive was divulged up until now, trainees have been dutifully reporting to work with no pay for the past eight months, which “amounts to a serious national security threat” as a nation. In lieu of this, the Association expressed its disappointment in government’s move towards the YouStart initiative.

“We do appreciate the ongoing process aimed at enrolling section of trainees on to the yet-to-be-launched YouStart program. But we are pleading with government to pay the arrears due the disgruntled trainees, because we are suffering.”
NABTAG

NABTAG previous calls unattended to by President

The Association bemoaned the “President’s nonchalant attitude” over the current situation, which it described as “disparaging to its lowest point”. It highlighted that NABTAG has placed several calls for him to intervene, but the issue keeps exacerbating.

To address the situation, NABTAG implored the Ghana Education Service to “consummate its process” in offering permanent appointment to educate Ghana’s trainees.

“The data collection exercise has been hanging far too long with no positive outcome. Information reaching me indicated that Ghana Revenue Authority is provisionally cushioning its trainees. We hope that the step taken will culminate in permanently placing them.”
NABTAG

Prior to this, the Coalition of NABCO Trainees in May this year threatened to embark on a demonstration on June 10 over unpaid allowances. The Coalition revealed that the economic situation of trainees had worsened due to the failure of government to pay their seven months allowance after the government had asked them to remain at post.

In a press statement signed by Frank Quansah, the National Secretary for NABCO Trainees, it stated that the hope of trainees in their career exit pathway had been curtailed owing to the delay by government to migrate them into permanent mainstream work.

It noted that all efforts to get the government to fulfil its promise and pay an accrued sum of GHC 4,900 to each trainee had been fruitless.