ZCTU Wants K4,000 PAYE Exempt Threshold In 2015

The Zambia Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) has proposed an upward adjustment in the Pay As You Earn (PAYE) exempt threshold from the current K3, 000 to K4, 000 in the 2015 National Budget in line with the escalating cost of living.

And the ZCTU has challenged the government to adhere to the 1999 International Labour Organization (ILO) ruling over the wage freeze which it deems illegal.

Speaking during a media briefing in Lusaka this morning, ZCTU Secretary General, Roy Mwaba, says the union will do anything in its powers to ensure that the wage freeze is lifted in the 2015 National Budget.

Mr. Mwaba notes that 90 percent of the total employment in the country is informal meaning that income for most workers has no social protection cover.

He adds that the 2015 National Budget should have adequate allocations for improving personal emoluments to compensate for the loss of real earnings arising from the increasing cost of living in the country.

Mr Mwaba states that there should be adequate allocations to settle outstanding arrears on leave, travel benefits, repatriation and other outstanding allowances to correct the wage distortions that are offshoots of the harmonization measures.

And the ZCTU Secretary General has observed that following the high cost of accommodation in the country, government should also consider providing social housing for public service workers because accommodation continues to take up a big share of the workers’ income.

He says government should also streamline expenditure and improve tax administration measures, improving tax morality, regulating spending on infrastructure by formulating a national infrastructure plan.

Mr. Mwaba adds that government should put in a place a comprehensive growth strategy anchored on internal resources mobilization and encouraging local entrepreneurship.

Posted by Editor on August 1, 2014. Filed under LATEST NEWS. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry

5 Responses to ZCTU Wants K4,000 PAYE Exempt Threshold In 2015

abamano Reply

August 2, 2014 at 12:14 am

ZCTU kosen baice amaafu nayacepa
wisdom Reply

August 2, 2014 at 6:01 am

Bamwaba if you insist on things that will not work it will frustrate you and a worker will lose. there are so many ways to help workers other than salary increament. eg paying outstanding allowances and instituitions to determine housing allowance
sanks division Reply

August 2, 2014 at 8:38 am

@wisdom is right. The government owes workers a lot of unpaid arrears in form of allowances, salary arrears, long service bonus. The problem is these union leaders do not get facts from the ground. In 2005, the govt received some dutch grant which they were able to clear all the outstanding bills owed to retirees and deceased. I think ths initiative can also be extended to serving employees. Govt shud consult how the then govt accessed tht money from the Dutch
THE BLOGGER Reply

August 2, 2014 at 10:10 am

Walk the talk!! All we need is more money in our pockets,decent accomodation,beutiful ladies….
pettie Reply

August 2, 2014 at 1:29 pm

ZCTU be strong on the matter please.May be people can have more money because of the wage free currently on