THE Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) has submitted proposals for inclusion in the National Budget for next year.

In a letter to the Minister of Finance dated September 11, 2009, Dr. Ashni Singh, the union stated, “The GPSU continues to feel obliged to submit proposals for inclusion in the National Budget – Estimates of the Public Sector Current and Capital Revenue for the year 2010.”

The GPSU attached a set of proposals for consideration following deliberations at several of its Executive Council Meeting.

The 40th anniversary and the Annual Conference of the Caribbean Public Services Association (CPSA) of which the GPSU has been designated host is scheduled to be held in Guyana on or about July 11 to 17, 2010.

The GPSU is specifically requesting that the hosting of the conference be facilitated by the inclusion of a subvention to meet necessary expenses in connection with the execution of this responsibility and further, requested that the Government of Guyana extends it patronage to the conference.

The union has requested an early meeting between the two parties to discuss its request and proposals at which it plans to present details of the budget in connection with the CPSA conference.

In its list of proposals, the GPSU reiterated that tax reform in Guyana is both needed and necessary and that the government should review the level of taxation on income and consumer items and the exercises should be undertaken with the meaningful involvement of the major stakeholders such as the business community; trade union movement; and representatives of non-governmental organisations.

Other proposals were that funds should be made available to continue and complete the Public Sector Modernisation Project with specific focus on human resource development; technological enhancement; implementing and maintaining established standards on occupational; safety and health; and general improvement of the work environment.

In terms of pension, the GPSU “believes that it is shameful that after working so many years in persistent poverty, senior citizens and retirees should be condemned to abject poverty while in retirement and to this end proposes that provisions be included in the 2010 Budget for a minimum increase of 50 per cent in all pensions payable by the State and that NIS (National Insurance Scheme) be encouraged to do likewise.

With respect to salaries the union is requesting that the income tax threshold be reduced from 331/3% to 20% on taxable income

Among proposals for GPSU are: 25 scholarships annually to University of Guyana; ten post graduate scholarships annually; government should provide the union with a subvention for development and maintenance of GPSU Sports Complex; a subvention for educational activities and its industrial relations and personnel management diploma programme.

“The GPSU is prepared to work with the Government of Guyana to execute any exercise that is evenhanded and fair. Large amounts of revenue could be saved and be available to be utilised otherwise if such actions are taken,” it stated.