THE trade unions federation (TUCTA) has declared that workers’ expectations in today’s Labour Day commemoration will focus on the new formula for computing retirement benefits.

A TUCTA statement yesterday said that workers expect to hear from President Samia Suluhu Hassan on envisaged changes as they seek relief for workers in the public and private sectors.

TUCTA vice president Shabani Ambindwile said In a telephone interview yesterday that workers were still grappling with low payment, seeking that it is improved to access various services, noting also that if an employee is well paid, he/she will get good retirement benefits.

Hery Mkunda, secretary general of the Tanzania Union of Government and Health Employees (TUGHE) said the union has plenty of expectations from the government.

Workers responding on condition of anonymity said that the major issue during the International Workers’ Day address is salary increments, expressing the feeling that President Samia will pursue changes she has regularly made, to “provide us with good news today.”

The workers also want to hear about promotions and new job openings as a large group of educated youth are in the streets with no jobs, they stated.

Recently, Patrobas Katambi, the Labour, Youth, Employment and People with Disabilities deputy state minister in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) cited improving civil servants’ retirement benefits in its lump sum payment.

Responding to labour related issues raised by MPs in the National Assembly, he said President Samia had twice issued directives to require ministers and the relevant agencies to work on the matter, conduct assessment and increase retirement benefits, especially the lump sum payment.

While the government is working on the matter it is possible President Samia may state a clear position on May 1, at the Sheikh Amri Abeid stadium in Arusha.

In July 2022, the government started using the new formula of calculating retirement benefits where servants are paid a lump sum pension of 33 percent once they retire.