The Association of Licensed Building Surveyors has petitioned the Ministry of Labour and Employment to reduce cess tax from 1 percent to 0.3 percent, in order to help builders.

In a petition to the Secretary of the Ministry, the members have said that people are forced to pay lot money for labourers as the cess tax amounts to 1 percent of the total value.

“People prefer machines over manpower in the current scenario as the labour is very expensive. In addition to the pay, the cess tax is a major concern for people who want to build houses,” M.Velumail, the president of the association, said.

He had also stated that in constructions, labour costs an additional 36 percent for cess, fees, taxes, expenditure for statutory approval, and other charges in Coimbatore, which is a burden to the public and the builders.

Thereby, the association has sought a revision in the cess amount from one percent to 0.3 percent.