Business / Economy
ZFTU criticises fiscal policy review
13 Sep 2014 at 16:22hrs | Views
A labour representative body has called on the government to extensively consult before making key national decisions.
Commenting on the recently announced Mid-Term Fiscal Policy Review statement, the Zimbabwe Federation of Trade Unions (ZFTU) secretary general, Kenias Shamhuyarira said the government has to consult key stakeholders, particularly labour, in matters relating to worker's livelihoods.
He said the fiscal policy review further burdens Zimbabweans, many of whom are earning salaries below the poverty datum line, and given the spate of company closures, spells more suffering for ordinary Zimbabweans.
"The Mid-Term Fiscal Policy Review statement is a very important document and as labour we thought that the Finance Minister would consult us. We feel that the raft of measures he has introduced further burdens the tax payer," said Shamhuyarira.
The ZFTU secretary general said the Finance Minister should have come up with a number of measures to protect, stimulate and incentivise the local industries.
Shamhuyarira said recently the Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development recently raised the toll fees in order to quicken the process of road rehabilitation, another example of a decision made without the buy-in of key stakeholders.
Finance Minister Patrick Chinamasa on Thursday announced the 2014 Mid-Term Fiscal Policy Review whose highlights include the taxation of fringe benefits such as housing and fuel allowance, increases in excise duty on diesel and petrol, the determination of the empowerment policy on a sector by sector basis and that royalty on gold from primary producers lowered to five percent from seven percent.
Commenting on the recently announced Mid-Term Fiscal Policy Review statement, the Zimbabwe Federation of Trade Unions (ZFTU) secretary general, Kenias Shamhuyarira said the government has to consult key stakeholders, particularly labour, in matters relating to worker's livelihoods.
He said the fiscal policy review further burdens Zimbabweans, many of whom are earning salaries below the poverty datum line, and given the spate of company closures, spells more suffering for ordinary Zimbabweans.
"The Mid-Term Fiscal Policy Review statement is a very important document and as labour we thought that the Finance Minister would consult us. We feel that the raft of measures he has introduced further burdens the tax payer," said Shamhuyarira.
The ZFTU secretary general said the Finance Minister should have come up with a number of measures to protect, stimulate and incentivise the local industries.
Shamhuyarira said recently the Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development recently raised the toll fees in order to quicken the process of road rehabilitation, another example of a decision made without the buy-in of key stakeholders.
Finance Minister Patrick Chinamasa on Thursday announced the 2014 Mid-Term Fiscal Policy Review whose highlights include the taxation of fringe benefits such as housing and fuel allowance, increases in excise duty on diesel and petrol, the determination of the empowerment policy on a sector by sector basis and that royalty on gold from primary producers lowered to five percent from seven percent.
Source - zbc
