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Wed, Feb 15th, 2012 Tanzania |
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry for Labour and Employment, Mr Eric Shitindi
Work permits to foreigners working in Tanzania will be issued by one centre only instead of three after a new system is in place.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry for Labour and Employment, Mr Eric Shitindi told the Parliamentary Committee for Public Accounts (PAC) in Dar es Salaam on Tuesday that his office was working on a new module for non-citizens wishing to work in the country.
Earlier, the PAC challenged the government on the obvious loopholes of the current system, saying it was prone to laxity and was easy to manipulate.
Mr Shitindi said there were challenges surrounding the issuance of work permits as three different authorities namely, the Immigration Department, Tanzania Investment Centre and the Labour ministry, all had authority to deal with permits.
Ms Lucy Owenya (Special Seats-Chadema) queried the influx of Chinese dealers in Kariakoo and other areas in Dar es Salaam, especially at garages, wondering whether such mechanical works could not easily be carried out by locals. Shinyanga Urban legislator Steven Masele (CCM) said he had confirmed reports of "some foreign companies" employing scores of non-citizens while locals could easily take up the jobs.
Other MPs noted with concern that some foreign companies were flouting labour laws by engaging more non-citizens than locals. The PAC Chairperson, Mr John Cheyo, demonstrated how Tanzania could jealously guard job opportunities for her people saying when travelling to the UK, a visitor's visa is given an ‘employment prohibited' stamp.
The issue of work permits surfaced during the PAC visit to the Labour ministry after the latter's data revealed that the rate of unemployment among the youth was rising. While the PS gave the rate at 12 per cent, Mr Cheyo punched holes in the statistics, noting that a smaller base might have been taken as a sample.
Mr Cheyo painted a gloomier picture, noting that creating a growing number of unemployed youth would result in a society that has no hope or love for its government. Earlier, the PS said some surveys showed that many youths lacked skills, adding that the education system should strive for competitive development of human resources.
"Our assumption is that as long as one is working in a productive sector, he or she is employed. People can either be employed or initiate own employment after school," said the PS. MPs had also wanted to know whether the ministry had liaised with its Education and Vocational Training counterpart to see how the education system can be reshaped to add more skills. The Shinyanga legislator proposed for a record keeping system for graduates, to be easily reached when employment opportunities abroad are available.
By ORTON KIISHWEKO, Tanzania Daily News