School feeding caterers declare nationwide strike over unpaid arrears

Caterers in the School Feeding Programme have called a nationwide strike in response to the government’s failure to pay their arrears and raise the amount per child.

The aggrieved caterers, who gathered in the Ashanti regional capital of Kumasi, emphasised that putting down their tools is the only choice left to them right now.

The caterers complained at a press conference that they are experiencing difficult economic times as a result of the situation.

The caterers’ leadership has thus invited all members across the country to join the strike in order to put pressure on the government to solve their problems as soon as possible.

One of the leaders of the caterers, Gifty Asamoah addressing the media said they have exhausted all their funds and are yet to get any feedback from the government on when their arrears will be paid them.

She claimed that despite providing essential services in schools, school-feeding caterers are not given the same level of respect given to other professions.

“School feeding caterers are public servants like teachers, Police, Doctors, nurses and other employees that provide state services but we are being discriminated against. Can government refuse to pay teachers for even one month, why are they doing the opposite when it comes to caterers? A contract is a contract and our human rights must be abused.”

The caterers have also threatened to embark on a nationwide demonstration if their arrears are not paid as early as possible.