MUSIGA to introduce minimum wage for members

THE Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA) has announced plans to introduce a minimum wage system for its members.

The move aims to ensure committed musicians in the country receive fair compensation for their work and contributions to the industry.

By establishing a minimum wage, MUSIGA intends to alleviate some of the financial challenges faced by its members, many of whom struggle to earn a sustainable income from their craft.

The decision to implement this initiative was taken at the MUSIGA National Capacity-Building Workshop for the Union’s National Executive Council members held on September 5-8, 2024 at Erata Hotel, East Legon in Accra.

The workshop covered key topics, including Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs), MUSIGA’s Gender Policy, financial management and contractual agreements.

As part of this new development, MUSIGA will engage with various stakeholders, including employers of musicians, event organisers and venue owners, to discuss the modalities of introducing a minimum wage.

Leading discussions on the Collective Bargaining Agreement, Deputy General Secretary of the International Federation of Musicians (FIM), Thomas Dayan, emphasised the importance of the CBA as a tool for musicians’ unions globally to guarantee minimum wages.

 “Senegal’s Association des Métiers de la Musique (AMS) has successfully implemented a minimum wage for its members and MUSIGA, which is part of the Union of Informal Workers Associations (UNIWA) of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), has the capacity to follow this path,” he said,

The workshop also saw participation from international partners, including the Head of International Relations for the Swedish Musicians Federation (SMF), Jonas Franzen, who shared insights on communication and financial management within musicians’ unions.

MUSIGA’s President, Bessa Simons, expressed optimism about the workshop’s outcome, noting that it equipped participants with the knowledge and skills necessary to lead the union in their respective regions.