Public Servants Threaten to down their Tools Over 2023 Finance Bill, Issues 4 Demands
Following employee protests over the proposed salary cuts in the Finance Bill 2023 and four requests, President William Ruto will have to deal with resentment in the public sector.
In a press release issued on Sunday, April 7, the Public Sector Union (PSU) committed to fight against what they called the overtaxation of public employees.
Government employees vowed to stop working and further exacerbate the nation’s financial difficulties if the current tax system persisted.
Part of a statement from PSU said, “The tax authorities continue to overburden the public sector employees whose salaries are withheld at source while doing very little to net those employed in the private sector.”
The Union criticized what they called the government’s irregular periodic raids on their pay stubs.
They criticized the government, saying that “any deduction from an employee’s salary can only be done through mutual consent or through negotiations by workers’ representatives.”
In their requests, they requested that the Parliament reject the proposed changes to the Finance Bill 2023, which would require civil servants to pay a housing fund charge in addition to other higher deductions.
According to PSU’s statement, which was read by Dr. Charles Mukhwaya, Secretary General of Kenya Universities Staff Union, “Contrary to what had been communicated in the past, the Finance Bill seeks to make civil servants contribute a mandatory mandatory 3% of their salary towards the Housing Fund.”
The second demand was to lower worker taxes, which PSU deemed to be inequitable.
PSU urged the government to consult with workers’ representatives in the public service sector very away to determine the appropriate course of action.
Finally, they made a request to the government: “We demand that the government expedite negotiations and implementation of all pending Collective Bargaining Agreements so that employees can have an increase in their earnings so that deductions may be accommodated.”
If this is not done, they threatened, “the Public Service Union will consider industrial action and any other measures as provided by law.”
While government workers voiced their displeasure, Ruto earlier stated that his administration will rely on taxes rather than borrowing to implement his bottom-up economic strategy.
Because Kenyans are suffering and we are inheriting a country with practically bursting debts, it is imperative that we reduce the cost of living and prevent our economy from further deteriorating.
The President stated on September 11, 2022, “Paying tax is the only way we can save this nation because we have been borrowing more than saving.”
Public Servants Threaten to down their Tools Over 2023 Finance Bill, Issues 4 Demands
