Workers around the globe divine on decent jobs.

Tanzanians workers celebrated May Day on 01 May 2013 in calm as workers around the globe with their trade unions calling for mass mobilization of protesters against tough austerity measures under way.

In central Moscow, at least 70,000 people turned out for a trade union parade backed by the governing United Russia Party, according to police figures, In Istanbul, police used tear gas and water cannon after protesters defied a ban on May Day demonstrations. 

Officials say the ban is to protect renovation work taking place at Taksim square, a traditional rallying point.Protesters demanding the execution of factory bosses over the deaths of hundreds in a recent building collapse in Bangladesh marched in their thousands in the capital, DhakaRallies have been called in more than 80 cities in Spain; Thousands of Filipinos marched in Manila demanding the government protect jobs and improve worker contracts.

 

In Tanzania President Jakaya kikwete was the official guest of honour at May Day Celebrations in Mbeya at which he heard workers pledges for pay rise.Speaking at the well attended occasion on 1St May 2013, the President said he concurred with the workers’ request for pay rise.

President Jakaya Kikwete joins Trade Union Congress of Tanzania (Tucta)

The other request by the Trade Union Congress of Tanzania, TUCTA involved reducing the tax burden on workers from the current rate of 15 per cent to 9 per cent.

The President was accompanied at the celebrations by the Minister for Labour and Employment Gaudencia Kabaka and other high ranking government officials.

Although Tanzanians workers joined the President and other government officials to celebrate the May Day but still civil servants in the country are grumbling on the low salaries, excessive income tax deductions and low remunerations from the pension funds schemes on retirement.

Trade Union Congress of Tanzania (TUCTA) Secretary General Nicholas Mgaya said Tanzanian workers are overburdened due to the fact that their salaries are subjected to huge income tax deductions.

“There are a lot of people in this country who evade paying tax. The government is weak and has not widened its tax base, thus shifting the tax burden to workers,” he said.

On poor remuneration from pension schemes, the Tucta executive secretary said there was no logic of having six pension schemes in Tanzania and yet workers are not allowed to join a scheme of their choice. “We have six schemes. What are they for?”

Ends.