Govt likely to amendment new pensions law - deputy minister

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Monday, 15 October 2012 08:21

By The Citizen Correspondent Kahama. The government is working on complaints about workers’ social security benefits in the mining sector. The assurance was made at the weekend by deputy minister for Energy and Minerals Stephen Masele, when he visited Bulyanhulu Goldmine in Shinyanga Region. He said Members of Parliament (MPs) were likely to make amendments next month to restore employment withdrawal pension benefits. “The government in April this year made some amendments on pension benefits, which sparked off debates on whether the government is pro-people or exercises power arbitrarily and decides whatever it wants without involving people,” he said when addressing workers at Bulyanhulu Goldmine owned by African Barrick Gold (ABG). “I am happy to inform you today that the ministry of Labour and Employment is working on this issue to ensure the pensions law is amended to allow flexibility in pension benefits so that workers can claim their benefits after employment,” he told the workers. He said workers exercised their rights when they opposed the new pensions law and urged them to be patient, while the process of making amendments was ongoing. “I would like to assure you that you have valid arguments. You cant have a piece of legislation that forces people to wait until they reach retirement age to claim their benefits while they need that money now to build a house, pay tuition fees for their children or invest in development projects,” he said. He noted that the government was mindful of its people and so there was the likelihood of making amendments in upcoming sessions of Parliament next month,” he explained. Masele said he had also received complaints that workers in the mining sector lacked Taxpayer Identification Numbers (TIN) despite paying taxes through their salaries. “Workers in the mining sector pay taxes through their salaries, but don’t have TIN numbers. We have already written to Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) commissioner general Harry Kitilya and has in principle agreed that workers in the mining sector should be given TIN numbers,” he said. Mr Masele said the ministry of Energy and Minerals had embarked on a fight against corruption and embezzlement of public funds that previously existed in the ministry. “Our ministry has changed, there was too much corruption before but now we are trying to put things in order. The ministry of Energy and Minerals is the heart of the nation’s economy, if the ministry doesn’t work properly it will paralyse all other ministries and lead to the collapse of the nation’s economy,” he said. The deputy minister also assured African Barrick Gold employees that the government was closely monitoring talks between Barrick Gold Corp and a Chinese firm for a possible take-over of ABG. He said the government would ensure national interests as well as the interests of ABG employees were protected if any take over deal took place. Mr Masele visited various community investment projects implemented by Bulyanhulu Goldmine, including the education sector and a housing scheme for employees. The minister has directed mining companies in the country to help turn surrounding communities into modern satellite towns by investing in the areas.