Tucta to start talks with government on workers’ welfare

Dar es Salaam. The Trade Union Congress of Tanzania (Tucta) yesterday revealed plans to commence engaging the government in negotiations related to workers’ welfare.

The union announcement comes a few days after the May Day celebrations held in Morogoro, which were graced by President Samia Suluhu Hassan.

Tucta believes that the encouraging speech delivered by the Head of State was an important starting point in the negotiation about workers welfare. The negotiations, according to Tucta, will focus on the areas of charges deducted from workers from both the public and private sectors, especially Pay As You Earn (Paye).

Tucta deputy secretary general Said Wamba said the 2023 May Day celebration was a success because workers’ demands have been heard and that it will continue negotiating to improve several other areas. “The union will soon start negotiating with the government on the issues of tax, private employee work contracts, and health insurance issues, among others.

“We are happy that the government has announced the reinstatement of the annual pay rise, but we still have concerns about the high tax deducted from workers’ salaries, making announced increments meaningless,” he said.

He said the Head of State has opened negotiation doors between the government and Tucta over issues related to workers welfare, hinting that they will effectively use the opportunity to push for the realisation of other important welfare.

“Labour unions are key instruments in the discussions and negotiations, not demonstrations. Workers’ welfare is fought stepwise. Once negotiations fail, we go for the next step instead of demonstrations and strikes,” he said.

“Therefore, we are prepared for discussions. We will use that opportunity to actively present workers’ arguments, including issues of salary, tax, insurance, and employers’ labour contracts,” he said.

He has commended the government for being responsive in dealing with workers’ welfare while explaining that it is because of the Sixth Phase government that workers managed to get salary increments after seven years down the line. Regarding salary increment among workers in the private sector, Mr Wamba said the minimum wage was increased last year, but the reality was missing because time was insufficient to conduct a study on the present living conditions.

“During our discussions with the government, Tucta will push for the wage boards to be given enough time to evaluate issues of minimum wage involving workers in the private sector in this country,” he said.