The Zambia Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) has proposed an upward adjustment in the Pay As You Earn (PAYE) exempt threshold from the current K3, 000 to K4, 000 in the 2015 National Budget in line with the escalating cost of living.
ZCTU has also challenged the government to adhere to the 1999 International Labour Organization (ILO) ruling over the wage freeze which it deems illegal.
Speaking during a media briefing in Lusaka this morning, ZCTU Secretary General, Roy Mwaba, said the union will do anything in its powers to ensure that the wage freeze is lifted in the 2015 National Budget.
Mr. Mwaba said that 90 percent of the total employment in the country is informal meaning that income for most workers has no social protection cover.
He added that the 2015 National Budget should have adequate allocations for improving personal emoluments to compensate for the loss of real earnings arising from the increasing cost of living in the country.
Mr Mwaba said that there should be adequate allocations to settle outstanding arrears on leave, travel benefits, repatriation and other outstanding allowances to correct the wage distortions that are offshoots of the harmonization measures.
And the ZCTU Secretary General has observed that following the high cost of accommodation in the country, government should also consider providing social housing for public service workers because accommodation continues to take up a big share of the workers’ income.
He said government should also streamline expenditure and improve tax administration measures, improving tax morality, regulating spending on infrastructure by formulating a national infrastructure plan.
Mr. Mwaba added that government should put in a place a comprehensive growth strategy anchored on internal resources mobilization and encouraging local entrepreneurship.
[QFM]
Then Mwaba who do u think is gonna pay taxes.
The mines should and will
your are really dreaming. How many Zambians get more than K4000? Some of these organisations are a let down mwee!!!! Instead of advising GRZ on how it can broaden tax revenue you are bussy doing the opposite.
What else you expect from parasites living on the sweat of the workers?
IF YOU INCREASE THE FREE PAY FROM 3,000 TO 4,000,HOW IS THE GOVERNMENT GOING TO FUND THE WAGE BILL.ITS IS WHAT IS TAXED FROM YOUR SALARY THAT PAYS GOVERNMENT SALARIES 70% OF DOMESTIC TAX REVENUE IS FROM PAYE .INFACT GOVT SHOULD REDUCE THE FREE PAY FROM3,000 TO 2,500
As de union talk of reality things e.g funeral arrangements if a worker loses a parent. Someone has to be something. There is no any arrangement 4 dat.