Newly promulgated tax laws:
SACP calls for meaningful, consensus-seeking engagement on the newly promulgated tax laws, and for comprehensive social security!!
The South African Communist Party (SACP) has noted with concern the statement issued yesterday, 28 January 2015 by the Presidency relating to the process that was followed on the newly promulgated tax laws.
The new tax laws will curtail worker's lump sum provident fund withdrawals without comprehensive social security and annuitize the remaining balance, two-thirds, based on retirement.
Unfortunately the statement cannot serve as a substitute for meaningful, consensus-seeking engagements with workers on the management and investment of their hard-earned wages and savings – provident funds. Serious consideration must be given to workers’ plight and demands.
The government must engage workers in good faith, meaningfully and seek consensus with them!!
Workers need to have a say on how their funds are managed and where they are invested. This right must be respected, else the funds will be exploited by those sections of finance capital that have gained, or other sections of capital that want to exercise, control over the money.
The SACP reiterates its call on the Social Development Department to play its lead role in developing comprehensive social security for the country.
This is an important development intervention. Comprehensive social security will go a long way in providing workers with social protection when they lose their jobs or retire. It is important for workers to save despite economic conditions and meagre wages. This must be buttressed by the intensification of the struggle for decent work, including a living wage.
The SACP reaffirms its support to Cosatu and will join its programme to ensure that the problem of the new tax laws is addressed.
We are urging workers to take the struggle for comprehensive social security in earnest, for there will be no other class to represent their interests.
Statement issued by SACP, 28 January 2016
