Opposition Leader Belden Namah is not going to stand- by and watch while workers face imminent cuts to their retirement savings or the population facing high costs in communication after the government decision to introduce additional tax and therefore, has filed a Supreme Court Reference this week to challenge that decision. Speaking at a press conference in Port Moresby, Namah said apart from the recent request by the government for Digicel PNG to pay K100 million in tax, the additional tax of K190 million on the BSP Financial Group Limited announced last year, which is expected to come into effect in September, is one that will really harm the retirement savings of members of the country’s four superfunds. Most of them are workers in both the private and the public sectors. “Today I have taken this fight and to join the PNG Trade Union and all the other unions in this country on behalf of the silent working class and majority of our rural population who rely essentially on the banking, finance, and the telecommunication services, and of course the members of the superannuation industry in our country,” said Mr. Namah. “I have instructed my lawyers last week, the Young and Williams Lawyers, and yesterday (Wednesday 13th April) I have filed an affidavit to challenge the super tax imposed by the Marape government on Digicel and Bank South Pacific. We will have this matter heard in the earliest time possible.” Meanwhile, the Executive Officer for the Association of Superannuation Funds of Papua New Guinea (ASFPNG) Mr. Vera Raga, has also vocalized the implications of these additional tax, especially on the members contribution. “This year Nasfund contributors may have got 6% credited to them, but if this law had been put in effect last year, you would have gotten 4% or 3%." He explained that the four superfunds own 25% of BSP and each year they pay dividend and that dividend translate into annual crediting rating.” “So, even before that money comes into your lifetime savings, it is taken by the government. They are in fact taxing you up to 42%, every hundred Kina you earn they get K42.00,” he explained. Mr. Raga said this should be a concern for the workers as their savings will be eroded by this new additional tax by the government. He said workers are being heavily taxed already and with this new additional tax, it will put enormous burden on them. “Therefore, I am very thankful for this action that has been taken by Mr. Namah so that commonsense prevails,” added Mr. Raga. Mr. Namah’s challenge of this government decision has the backing of the Papua New Guinea Trade Union Congress (PNGTUC), which welcomes this announcement of his decision to fight for the people who are going to be affected by a government decision.