TUCTA: Refrain from unnecessary expenditure and pay 150,000/- a month

The Tanzania Trade Union Congress (TUCTA) yesterday challenged the government to reduce unnecessary expenditures in order to pay public servants at least 150,000/- a month as minimum wage.

In an interview with The Guardian, TUCTA Deputy Secretary General Nicolas Mugaya said the move would enable the government raise minimum wage for public servants, to reduce unnecessary complaints and outcries.

`I am quite sure that the government can improve the welfare of its employees if there is commitment and deliberate efforts to reduce unnecessary expenditures, and also adhere to strict tax collection base,` he said.

He noted that there are loopholes in taxation systems, which some unscrupulously use to evade paying taxes.

Reduction of unnecessary government expenditures and plugging existing loopholes in the tax collection structure would enhance government financial strength and enable it pay a 150,000/- monthly salary for its public servants.

`The 100,000/- recommended by the Public Service Commission is `peanut` as employees can hardly survive with such an amount,` he said.

He said negotiations are still going on with the government to raise the minimum wage to at least 315, 000/-,which he considers reasonable for minimum salary-scale.

Mugaya criticised recent tours by ministers as unnecessary expenditures, as the officials spent taxpayers� money for no good cause.

`This is extravagant expenditure of public funds. The money could have done wonders if it was spent in other social or economic development purposes,` he noted.

`We don`t see the reason for ministers to visit all the regions to clarify the budget which was discussed through the marathon budget session and covered by all sections of the media. This new move is a costly undertaking for the government, and a burden to the people,` he said.

He challenged the Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) to ensure that all eligible pay taxes.

The Public Service Joint Council yesterday recommended to the government to raise civil servants wage to 100,000/- from the current 84,000/-.

The recommendations, according to council chairperson, Anastasia Mmuni, result from the fact that the government`s financial position does not allow making bigger commitments.

The council is composed of workers` and employers` representatives and government officials.

She said some of the items in the salary package would not be taxed to allow the low income workers attend to their basic needs.

Recently, trade unions had organised demonstrations to pressurise the government to increase civil servants` wages, but the government played down their demands.