THE JAMAICA Confederation of Trade Unions (JCTU) says that it is awaiting the details of the proposals for debt reduction put forward by Finance Minister, Dr. Omar Davies, last week to assess the full implications of the budget on the living standards of workers.
In a release issued on Monday, the JCTU said that it will await details of the proposals on zero rated and exempt goods and services which will now attract the 15 per cent GCT; the effects of the increase in telephone rates; the likely collateral impact of the environmental levy and the four per cent cess on imports, announced by the Finance Minister.
"While we await the full measure of the tax package, we are mindful that the budget must provide the hope and the opportunity for improvements in the welfare of the Jamaican people," JCTU said. "In that regard the budget debate must conclusively provide for us a clear and definable path to economic growth with job creation, facilitate employment through the level of responsiveness to public action and public demands and enhance security by managing the risks of economic shocks and fallout."
GOOD GOVERNANCE
The JCTU said that improvements in people's lives depended on good governance, equitable distribution of incomes and high levels of compliance with the laws concerning both taxes and social security contribution which the state is obligated to regulate.
"We believe that critical to the success of the economy is the need for the Government to address, urgently, the issue of productivity promotion at the national level, by establishing the national productivity centre which will allow for the popularisation of productivity awareness and provide support for institutions and institutional mechanisms promoting productivity," JCTU said. "It is only through the effectiveness of national efforts to improve productivity that the real improvements will be made to lowering our fiscal deficit, reducing the ratio of our debt, sustaining single digit inflation rates, enhancing growth and reducing the country's debt servicing charge on the budget,"
The JCTU said that the long-term sustainability of Jamaica's economic performance will not be achieved, if the country seeks to borrow or tax its way out of the present situation.
