http://www.world-psi.org/en/psi-calls-new-global-tax-body New York, 18 March - PSI General Secretary, Rosa Pavanelli, today called
for a new global tax body while giving evidence in New York to the Independent Commission on Reform of International
Corporate Taxation (ICRICT).
Ms Pavanelli said:
“We have a World Bank, a World Health
Organisation and even an international body to regulate football – but, in the
face of massive corporate tax scandals, we don’t have a global tax body. In
whose interest is this?”
Commenting on outdated global tax rules:
“The current international corporate tax
laws were written in the 1920’s before the ball point pen and the photocopier
had been invented – yet 40 years after we put a man on the moon we still can’t
tax McDonald’s properly for selling us a cheeseburger,” said Ms Pavanelli,
referring to the recent exposure by public sector unions of McDonald’s alleged tax avoidance practices in Europe.
“The technical solutions exist – what we lack is the political will,”
she said from New York.
“This Commission is a big step
forward in including the public in a tax debate that affects everyone but has
been hijacked by corporate interests and blocked by our politicians.”
“Something is very wrong when McDonald’s
can siphon a billion Euros out of European tax coffers while our governments
tell us that lack of revenue means we must cut health care and pensions” she
said.
The Independent Commission for the Reform
of International Corporate Taxation (ICRICT) chaired by former UN
Under-Secretary-General José Antonio Ocampo meets for the first time on 18
March, in New York, to take expert evidence.
For further comment contact PSI Director
of Policy & Governance Daniel Bertossa Daniel.bertossa@world-psi.org or +33617462552
For further information on the ICRICT, see their
website.
Public Services
International is a global trade union federation representing 20 million working
women and men who deliver vital public services in 150 countries. PSI champions
human rights, advocates for social justice and promotes universal access to
quality public services. PSI works with the United Nations system and in
partnership with labour, civil society and other organisations.
