It is an annual event that brings workers together and gives them an open forum to compare notes and press outstanding demands for better working conditions. The climax of the celebrations will be held at nationallevel in Dodoma today where Jamhuri Stadium in the municipality has been picked as the venue.
Trade Union Congress of Tanzania (TUCTA) Secretary General, Mr Nicholas Mgaya, has confirmed that President John Magufuli will grace the event, whose activities start at 9 am.
Historically, the day can be traced back to the early 1860s when workers agitated to shorten the workday without a cut in pay. But it wasn’t until the late 1880s that organised labour was able to garner enough strength to declare the 8-hour workday.
This proclamation was without consent of employers, yet demanded by many of the working class. According to Mr Mgaya, the theme of this year’s celebrations goes in tandem with ongoing reforms being made by the Fifth Phase government under Dr Magufuli.
“Such reforms should as well improve the workers’ conditions,” stated Mr Mgaya. The SG said that while the Prime Minister, Mr Kassim Majaliwa, cabinet ministers, MPs and members of diplomatic corps accredited to Tanzania will attend the ceremony, the trade union is so far pleased with the cost-cutting measures and tax collection drive undertaken by the Magufuli Administration.
“For years, we have been advising the government on cost-cutting measures and to increase collection of taxes from other sources to ease the taxation burden to workers,” he said. Mr Mgaya urged the government to reduce Pay As You Earn (PAYE) to single digit levels.
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