Minister
of State, Prime Minister’s Office (Policy, Parliamentary Affairs,
Labour, Employment, Youth and the Disabled), Ms Jenista Mhagama.
The team, which also includes the
Commissioner for Labour, is as well working on claims of lack of
accountability in mining activities and large scale farming whereas the
employees are improperly paid and the employers preparing two different
salary slips for the workers.
This was revealed here yesterday by the
Minister of State, Prime Minister’s Office (Policy, Parliamentary
Affairs, Labour, Employment, Youth and the Disabled), Ms Jenista
Mhagama.
She was reacting to a supplementary
question by Mr Joseph Kasheku Musukuma (Geita-CCM) who wanted to know
the initiative taken by the government as far as early retirement
benefits for the workers in the mining industry are concerned.
Ms Mhagama said it has come to their
attention that some employers in the extractive industry are evading tax
by having two salary slips for the employees -- the real ones, which
are not submitted to the government -- and the doctored ones, which show
low salaries compared to the reality on the ground.
“As a result, it is not only the
government, which is losing revenue but the employees as well when it
comes to their terminal benefits -- as they end up being paid what has
not been meant for,” she said.
The special team is investigating the
matter so that all parties in the matter observe accountability and
transparency. On the retirement benefits to the workers in the
extractive industry, Ms Mhagama said it is true that the nature of their
jobs warrants them to an early retirement; but that for the time being,
the social security funds law did not have room for that.
However, she said, they are charting out
modalities to see if the law can be looked at to allow the workers in
the extractive industry and large-scale farms to be awarded with their
benefits when they retire from the industry voluntarily.
Answering the main question by Ms Salome
Makamba (Special Seats-CHADEMA) on measures taken by the government to
end and control improper firing of employees in the mining industry and
compensation to those who are injured while on job, the Deputy Minister
in the ministry, Mr Anthony Mavunde, said compensation will be issued
starting July 1.
Moreover, he insisted on the need for
both public and private employers to pay the stipulated percentage of
wage bills to the fund, failure of which they will pay 50m/- fine and a
jail term to the institution’s executive officer.
He said a worker contracting occupational disease will be paid while disability was not a reason for dismissal.
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