The National Labour Commission is expected to intervene in a salary dispute between management of the National Lottery Authority (NLA) and its workers’ union after negotiations over pay increases reportedly reached a deadlock.

The disagreement centres on salary adjustments for 2026, with management offering a 12% pay increase while the union is demanding an increase of between 17% and 18%, according to sources familiar with the negotiations.

The union argues that recent changes in the application of taxes on staff salaries have reduced employees’ take-home pay, placing financial pressure on workers, particularly those servicing loans and other commitments.

According to reports, the issue stems from efforts by the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) to recover taxes that had not been fully applied to staff salaries over several years. Following engagements between the GRA and NLA management, measures were introduced to regularise the tax deductions.

Union representatives maintain that the proposed salary increase is insufficient to offset the impact of the deductions and have pressed management to approve a higher adjustment.

Sources at the Authority, however, say the NLA Board and management negotiated an arrangement with the GRA to settle tax liabilities exceeding five million Ghana cedis without passing the burden directly onto staff.

They further indicate that the Board approved the 12% salary increase after considering budgetary constraints and the Authority’s financial position.

The union has rejected the offer, resulting in a stalemate that has reportedly fuelled threats of nationwide demonstrations by workers.

The two sides are expected to appear before the National Labour Commission in an effort to resolve the impasse and reach an agreement on salary adjustments for 2026.