Says govt will contribute 40bn/- to fund to help injured workers
President Jakaya Kikwete and Trade Union Congress
of Tanzania (Tucta) leaders raise hands in solidarity yesterday during
May Day celebrations held at national level in Dar es Salaam.
The president granted the extra 60 days to the CA after the initial 70 days expired on April 28 this year.
Addressing workers to mark the International Labour Day held at the national level in Dar es Salaam he said: “The Constituent Assembly is capable of completing the work within the given 60 days, but if it fails then the process will be taken up in future when I will already have retired.”
Commenting on the CA proceedings President Kikwete said that he saw no problem with the debate, but what worries him is the use of abusive language by some CA members who have gone as far as to insult the founders of the nation.
He said different views presented by members can be used to come up with constructive ideas which will be beneficial to wananchi, but urged members to avoid abusive language and be tolerant during debate.
Meanwhile the government will establish a special fund which will be used to compensate workers who will be injured at work.
He said the Fund to which the government will contribute 40bn/- is expected to start on July 1 this year.
According to the President the government will contribute one percent of the salary of each employee while employers in private sector will be required to contribute 0.5 percent of the salary of each employee.
“The main objective of the Fund is to compensate workers who will be seriously injured at work… the government has discovered most workers who are injured at work are receiving very small compensation due to limited resources of their employers,” President Kikwete said.
He said through the Fund workers in public and private sector will be assured of their compensation if they are injured at work.
On the minimum wage Kikwete said the government will increase the amount in the coming financial year but stopped short of disclosing the amount.
He said it is true that the current minimum wage of 240, 000/- is not enough to meet the needs of the workers.
Kikwete said although the amount which could cater for the workers’ needs is 750,000/- the government has failed to pay such amount due to limited budget.
“It is difficult for now to offer a huge salary increase to workers, but I believe that given the favourable growth of our economy, the situation is expected to change in future,” Kikwete said.
He said that the government will continue to work on the worker’s demands to reduce heavy burden of income tax which is currently 13 percent.
Trade Union Congress of Tanzania (TUCTA ) Secretary General Nicholas Mgaya said a number of workers’ grievances have not been addressed due to the failure to apply the principles of good governance.
Mgaya said that transparency, accountability among the public servants, discipline and time planning will help to address the workers’ complaints.
He said the Congress acknowledged the salary increments by the government but noted that the amount was still too low to meet the needs of the workers.
For the financial year 2013/2014 the minimum wage in public sector was increased from 170,000/- to 240,000/- while in private sector the rate differed according to the sectors ranging from 100,000/- to 450,000/-. He noted that despite the increment the minimum wage in agriculture sector is still low thus causing the shortage of labour farms which has affected production.
SOURCE:
THE GUARDIAN
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