JCTU president calls for tax reform

Newly elected president of the Jamaica Confederation of Trade Unions (JCTU), Lloyd Goodleigh, has listed tax reform as a key element for putting Jamaica on a growth path.



Speaking at the JCTU’s fourth annual congress at the Jamaica Conference Centre in downtown Kingston on the weekend, Goodleigh said the current tax system is a disincentive to economic growth.



While stressing the need for the government to move quickly to address the problem, Goodleigh said current income tax compliance measures place an unfair burden on pay-as-you-earn (PAYE) workers.



He said this often discourages potential investors from doing business in Jamaica.



According to Mr Goodleigh, most Jamaicans pay no income tax much to the detriment of those who make PAYE contributions.



Only recently, Prime Minister Bruce Golding indicated that the authorities are devising a strategy to collect from those persons who have not been paying their taxes.