The Secretary General of the UOCRA construction union Gerardo Martínez has considered “conditions are ripe” for the government to exempt the year-end salary bonus – “aguinaldo” -, from income tax, adding the system must me updated so that it does not affect workers with lowest wages.
“We all have to pay taxes. Around the world, higher salaries pay taxes. But what happens in Argentina is that, in the way the income tax scheme is set, it makes lowest salaries to unfairly pay for it,” Martínez said in statements to media today.
On Tuesday, President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner questioned opposition leaders who have been urging the government to “eliminate the income tax or lower export rights,” dismissing claims to have Argentina’s tax system modified.
“It is something that must be modified. That is why we continue with our demand for December’s aguinaldo to be exempted from this tax. And next year, we will have to discuss a law to modify the famous Machinea tablet,” the UOCRA leader added.
“Now we have to have reasonableness, apply a fair plan and unions in consequence want something that is logic: that unfair tablet must be modified,” he assured adding that “conditions are ripe for the aguinaldo to be left aside from income tax. «There are no risks. And that the government should take a look at. It is no spontaneous or capricious position, it is a demand.”
Saying he agreed with Ms. Kirchner’s statements, Martínez pointed out unions “are not defending those who earn most.”
“Nobody is stopping to think in the need the State has to have finance to carry out all the policies they are doing. And we are neither defending those who earn most.”
buenosairesherald.com