New Finance Minister expands tax office bureaucracy

After a meeting with trade unions of tax office employees, the Minister promised to maintain employment and salaries at their present levels. The decision puts an end to the protests of the trade unionist who opposed Gilowska's plans. Experts positively assess the decision of the Minister. "In comparison with other EU countries our tax collection system is not excessive. The employment reduction would result in lowering the quality of services for taxpayers and would damage the state's interests," commented former deputy finance minister Witold Modzelewski. The Minister also announced that employment in tax offices will increase in order to raise the effectiveness of collection of due taxes, fees, fines and other financial penalties. The units involved in the execution of due taxes are to employ 1,200 new people. The tax collection system currently employs 60,000 staff. (Puls Biznesu, pp. 1, 4) E.B.