Tucta: Pay rise, salary arrears key issues on May Day 2023

Dar es Salaam. Demands for a pay rise, payment of salary arrears, improved working conditions and employment contracts are among key issues expected to feature in today’s May Day celebrations across the country.

These issues are expected to be raised despite the 23.3 percent minimum salary raise announced recently by President Samia Suluhu Hassan and increments made by the private sector depending on sectors.

The government also approved payment of five percent contribution by public servants to pension funds after they were sacked due to possession of forged certificates.

President Hassan is today expected to grace this year’s May Day celebrations to be held at Jamhuri Stadium in Morogoro under the theme “Better Salaries and Decent Jobs are the Pillars of Workers’ Development”.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with The Citizen in Morogoro, Trade Union Congress of Tanzania (Tucta) president Tumaini Nyamhokya said they will continue demanding better pay and decent job as reflected by this year’s slogan.

“Some workers still haven’t been paid various arrears. The next Budget contains votes for workers’ payments.

“We are submitting our request to Her Excellency the President and she will probably issue a statement tomorrow (today) regarding workers’ claims,” Mr Nyamhokya said.

He another issue of concern is some employers’ failure to implement the pay rise announcement made in January this year.

“Our belief is that Her Excellency the President will issue directives to some employers in the private sector who haven’t started paying new salaries despite the announcement.

“We have several other issues, including some employers’ failure to sign voluntary agreements with trade union branches at workplaces. Those are the key issues that have been submitted to the Head of State,” he said.

Mr Nyamhokya added that despite the 23.3 percent minimum salary increment in the public sector, salaries were not increased across the board.

“Therefore, we will continue to ask for salary increment during this year’s celebrations and hope that the government will respond appropriately,” he said.

Mr Nyamhokya said they had also requested the government to take into consideration workers who were fired for allegedly possessing fake academic certificates.

He said the Head of State announced that they will be paid the five percent monthly deductions made on their salaries.

According to him, a similar request was submitted for workers fired over academic issues, noting that the two directives have been worked and the victims have received their payments.

“Also, we submitted a request for salary increment for workers in the private sector that has been implemented, only that implementation is incomplete to some of them,” he said.

Yesterday, Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa inspected the Jamhuri Stadium which is expected to host this year’s celebrations and expressed satisfaction with preparations.

Mr Majaliwa who doubles as Ruangwa Constituency legislator, told ministers, lawmakers and the May Day preparation committee that all is set for today’s event and that workers should attend in large numbers.

The 23.3 percent salary increment announced by the government ignited debate from different stakeholders forcing the Public Service Management and Good Governance permanent secretary, Dr Laurean Ndumbaro to issue clarification.

In his clarification, he said salary raises are meant to reduce the gap between those who are highly paid and those in the minimum wage category.

“Salary increases are not uniform across the board. The higher the salary, the lower the increase percentage because the government’s goal is to elevate those in the minimum wage category. As you do so, the percentage rise for those with higher salaries goes down correspondingly,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office (Labour, Employment, Youth and the Disabled), Prof Joyce Ndalichako, said she has directed employers to execute their basic responsibilities to promote occupational safety and health at workplaces.

Prof Ndalichako was speaking during the celebration of the Occupational Safety and Health Day co-organized by the Occupational Safety and Health Authority (Osha), the Association of Tanzania Employers (Ate), the International Labour Organization (ILO) and Tucta.

She said a number of occupational diseases and accidents could be prevented whenever there are better systems that promote occupational safety and health.

“Therefore, Osha should provide education to the informal sector including bodaboda operators in order to increase awareness and reduce the trend,” she said.

Osha’s chief executive officer Hadija Mwenda said the manufacturing sector tops the works and mining sectors for the number of accidents with the youth being the most victims.

“With increased employment opportunities, the trend could be even worse. Employers should strengthen preventive measures in order to reduce the vice,” she said.