GOVERNMENT’s proposed sugar tax will hit where it hurts most – in our pockets!
This was the cry from members of the Food and Allied Worker Union as they marched to the office of the National Treasury in Tshwane yesterday.
The union’s president, Artwell Nazo, said they marched against plans to raise tax on sugary beverages as it would cause more job losses.
“We can’t accept this tax. Already 27% of Mzansi’s people are unemployed. A sugar tax will increase the levels of poverty.”
The group of more than 300 workers in the sugar value chain industry handed over a memorandum to the Treasury.
The union rejected claims that the lost jobs would be made up elsewhere.
“We reject arguments that there will suddenly be a lot of factories making bottled spring water or 100% pure juices to employ more people. Those claims are neither practical nor possible.”
The union said they agreed that South Africa needed a healthy and population with fewer diseases, but added that one job loss is one too many. The union demanded a response from Treasury no later than 7 December.
Lwazi Giba, chief risk officer at the Treasury, said they would study the memorandum and respond in seven days.
