Provide tax salary exemption

I SUGGEST the Government provide salary tax exemption for public servants, company employees and SME owners to cope with the current Covid-19 situation.
Most or all the company and government employees, including small business men and women are heavily taxed.
Provide a tax holiday of six months as individuals in the country are struggling to survive the Covid-19 pandemic.
I understand the Government is providing a stimulus package for the economy and incentives for those off the job or unemployed.
But some of us who are currently working are heavily taxed.
Almost one-third of our salary is taxed by the Government. We go home with very little.
Given the Covid-19 situation, we are struggling to put food on the table for our immediate families.
Our tribesmen, neighbours, wantoks and acquaintances in towns and cities are unable to return to their villages due to lockdown in the country.
It would be fair if the Government can rescue all working class through a 100 per cent salary tax exception for the next six months.
This will help them have sufficient financial capabilities to support their families at this challenging moment.
We understand the Government relies on tax as one of its main revenue collection for economic development.
But I challenge the Government to understand that we as individual bread winners are struggling to feed everybody in this Melanesian social setting.
The cost of living in the country is sky high. School fees are unaffordable.
Now that the coronavirus is in town, added burden is put on all Papua New Guineans.
Please give us a six-month salary tax exception as we are all struggling from this foreign pandemic.
The tax exemption will provide us sufficient financial power to take care of ourselves at this difficult time.

Mathew Yakai
Journalist