The Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Dr. Kwabena Duffuor, is expected in Parliament Wednesday morning to submit the Government’s 2010 Budget Statement and Economic Policy, amidst high public expectations of policies to re-energize industrial production and point to job creation. Labour, led by parent mouthpiece, the Trades Union Congress, has said that while it agrees that “there can be no effective Government without taxes,” it expects government to announce a tax regime that is fair to all. “We do not think Ghana’s tax system is fair. Workers in the formal sector are being overtaxed while even many wealthier people operating in the so-called informal economy do not pay tax. A tax system which allows these wealthy business men and women operating in the informal economy to evade taxes with impunity cannot only be described as unfair but also unjust.” Labour has long made it clear to government to consider for the 2010 budget, the introduction of tax reliefs to ease the tax burden on workers. Labour also expects word that the implementation of the Single Spine Pay Structure will commence in January, 2010, in accordance with what it says is the agreed Road Map for the implementation of the new pay policy. The Minority spokesperson on Finance and Economic Planning, Dr. Akoto Osei, however is advising Ghanaians to expect yet another mean budget after the government’s first Budget on Thursday March 5, 2009 since assuming power, which targeted expenditure cuts aimed at combating a budget deficit of almost 15 percent of GDP. Other challenges then included a surge in inflation, a falling value of the cedi as well as interest rates increase, a situation that has mildly improved, according to the government’s reckoning. From Kumasi, correspondent Ohemeng Tawiah of Nhyira FM says residents have very high expectations of the budget announcing policies on employment and job creation. They expect the government to address concerns in the agricultural sector because it is one area to assist majority of unemployed Ghanaian youth to find jobs. Story by Myjoyonline.com/Ghana