Service and Food Workers Union Nga Ringa Tota
www.sfwu.org

National Tax Policy Punishes Low-Income Workers

The National Party tax policy is not going to provide a brighter future for thousands of low-income part-time workers, said Service and Food Workers Union National Secretary John Ryall.

"Most of our members employed in Aged Care work part-time hours at close to the minimum wage and at a time in which they are crying out for political support they have been delivered a kick in the guts."

The NZIER tax calculator shows a caregiver in Aged Care receiving $12.55 an hour will pay $5.72 a week more in tax in 2010 and $8.65 more in tax in 2011 under National rather than Labour.

"The National Party tax cuts are about distributing money from the poor to the rich and along with the cuts to Kiwisaver are a double blow to low-income workers struggling to make ends meet."

"We urge National to abandon their tax cuts and instead look at how they can put more money into Aged Care and other state-funded sectors to make a real difference to low-income workers," said John Ryall

ENDS

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