Workers in Accra have appealed to Mr Kofi Asamoah, Secretary-General of the Trades Union Congress, (TUC) to help halt the increasing levels of income tax, which was leading them to poverty.
They also appealed to the Internal Revenue Service to
find innovative means of extending the tax net to cover all taxable income earners in the informal sector to reduce the burden on those in the formal sector.
The appeal was made at a meeting to elect new executives for the Accra Area District Council of Labour, in Accra, on Monday.
The workers said the hike in taxes in recent times was unacceptable
and the TUC's intervention was critical to help address the matter.
Replying, Mr Asamoah said the TUC would cross check with the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning to ascertain the facts, noting that about 80 per cent of taxable people were in the informal sector.
Mr Asamoah also advised them to check with officers assigned to tax issues in their organisations to find out whether their employers were using the new or old tax schedule for their deductions.
Meanwhile, Mr Charles Thompson from Teachers and Educational Workers Union (TEWU) has been elected the Chairperson of the Accra District Labour Council with Mr. Henry Nii-Baah of Construction Building and Material Workers Union (CBMWU) as the first vice chairperson.
The position of second vice chairperson went to Mr Christian Briant of Public Services Workers Union, while Mr Nii Dodoo was elected Secretary.
Mr Emmanuel Llyod Baffoe from Health Workers Union (HWU) was made the Assistant Secretary while the post of Treasurer/organizer went to Edward Okoe Ampofo.
Mr Andy Tuakwa (rpt. Tuakwa) Mensah of Union of Industries, Trade and Commerce became assistant treasurer/organizer.