Tanzanian Govt to protect jobs for citizens despite EA Common Market

[Geza Ulole]

Labour movement ‘not so free'

By Arusha Times Correspondent

Tanzania would continue to protect jobs for her citizens despite the anticipated free movement of labour in East Africa after coming into force of the EA Common Market Protocol later this year.

A survey carried out by the East African Trade Unions Confederation (EATUC) indicated that unlike other partner states in the region,Tanzania would rationalise employment of foreigners in the country so that her qualified citizens are not marginalised.

The government would only allow hiring of foreign workers for the use of technologies and skills that are not available locally. Such foreign workers would be required to facilitate the acquisition of the required skills by the local personnel.

The objective is to ensure that work permits issued to foreign workers in the country do not prejudice skilled Tanzanians access to employment opportunities from local and foreign investments.

A report by EATUC released last week indicated Tanzania's position on the labour integration in the regional bloc was different from some of her partner states who preferred free movement of labour within the region as espoused in the just concluded Common Market negotiations.

"Unlike the other partner states in the region, the Tanzania employment policy emphasizes the rationalisation of employment of foreigners in that country" said the report by the confederation which is based in Arusha.

The trade union body has been advocating integration of labour matters in the EAC region, including harmonisation of employment policies to enable the region have a well-nurtured and productive labour force that would contribute towards a dynamic economy and cohesive society.

The study was undertaken to establish the reality about the labour market situation and the state of employment policy in EA with the ultimate aim of addressing the problem of unemployment and seek ways to create more jobs through stimulating economic growth and development.

It was found out that unemployment and under-employment remained major problems affecting all the member states in the Community; Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya, Burundi and Rwanda.

The jobless include those who are willing and able to work but cannot get jobs while a sizeable number of those engaged are not fully utilised within their respective countries.

The employment challenges faced by most of the partner states are similar and included, among others, shortage of technically skilled labour force to meet the labour market demands and lack of incubation support structures for employment creation.

The survey found out that only Tanzania and Rwanda had employment policies in place while Kenya and Uganda had draft policies and Burundi none.

The Tanzanian employment policy is explicit on the protection of jobs for the locals through rationalising the employment of foreigners in the country, facilitating Tanzanian job seekers to acquire the appropriate skills, coordinating the employment of Tanzanians abroad and the return of skilled Tanzanians to fill skills gaps.

Strategies to address unemployment include improving and transforming the informal sector for creating decent jobs, enhancing promotion of youth employment and the capacity of the domestic private sector investors in creating new and better employment opportunities and improving and expanding employment services.

Kenya, despite being the strongest economy in the region, was found to have more and complex problems in the employment sector. These included neglect of the labour intensive investments, rigid wage system, low labour productivity, underdeveloped micro and small enteprises sector and unstable industrial relations.

Rwanda, where 60 per cent of her population is living under the poverty line, with limited mineral resources unlike Tanzania and little industrial base compared to Kenya, was also found to be short of technically skilled labour force to meet the labour demands.

The tiny country, which joined EAC alongside with Burundi in 2007 and which has recorded fast economic growth in the last few years, has low level of modernisation of the agricultural sector despite employing about 90 per cent of its population estimated at 10 million.

According to the survey, Tanzania had an estimated 800,000 new labour force entrants each year in 2005/2006 and that in 2006, 16.6 million people or 88 per cent of the economically active labour force were employed in the rural areas primarily on small holdings as self employed or unpaid family wokers.

The remaining 2.2 million or 11.7 per cent persons aged 15 years and above were unemployed. Approximately three per cent of the total employed worked in the public sector, central and local government and parastatal organisations although employment in the public sector declined between 1990 to 2000 as a result of privatisation of the public enterprises.

Uganda had 392,000 new job entrants into the labour market every year by 2007 and registered average economic growth rate of 6.5 per cent per annum and reduction of poverty levels from 56 per cent in 1992 to 31 per cent in 2005/2006. This, however, did no lower unemployment and under-employment poverty levels.

Kenya's employment problem, on the other hand, has been compounded by what analysts described as mis-match between the growth rate of the economy and that of the labour force. Currently the labour force there is estimated at 12.3 million and is projected to reach 16.8 million this year.

EAC officials say with the coming into force of teh EAC Common Market Protocol in July this year labour would be allowed to "move freely" within the region. Consequently, harmonisation and coordination of labour market would become crucial for the regional integration.

This, according to them, would necessitate harmonisation of labour policies and laws within the region to facilitate free movement of labour within the Community.

 

[Wacha1]

Si walikuwa wanapiga makofi na ukelele kufikiri watakuja na kufanya watakalo Tanzania. Tuliwaambia kwa muda wakawa wanabisha na kusema all is signed and dusted. Tanzania ni ya Watanzania na tutafanya lolote tunalopenda at will, whether they like it or not.

 

[Mlenge]

I beg to differ, Wacha1.

Tanzania itatawaliwa through EAC, and every protocol will be implemented to the letter, and beyond, in Tanzania.

Those claims that Tanzania has refused some parts of the EAC agreements, are meant to hoodwink the rest of Tanzania population to be complacent before the final "jugular vein" of the country is cut-off in July.

Incomprehensible.

Mlenge

 

[Wacha1]

I beg to differ, Wacha1.

Tanzania itatawaliwa through EAC, and every protocol will be implemented to the letter, and beyond, in Tanzania.

Those claims that Tanzania has refused some parts of the EAC agreements, are meant to hoodwink the rest of Tanzania population to be complacent before the final "jugular vein" of the country is cut-off in July.

Incomprehensible.

Mlenge

What should they do as the best option at the moment?

 

[Ab-Titchaz]

I beg to differ, Wacha1.

Tanzania itatawaliwa through EAC, and every protocol will be implemented to the letter, and beyond, in Tanzania.

Mlenge

Tunaomba ufafanuzi na mifano tafadhali ili pointi ieleweke. I believe Tanzania
is a sovereign nation and so are the rest of the other members. So how do you get
ruled from another entity yet you have your own Parliament and Constitution to
govern?

 

[Abdulhalim]

Tanzania would continue to protect jobs for her citizens despite the anticipated free movement of labour in East Africa after coming into force of the EA Common Market Protocol later this year

Ukweli ni kwamba hili ni gumu sana kutekelezeka, kutokana na ukweli kwamba hatuna capacity ya kufuatilia haya mambo. Kuweza kufuatilia hili inabidi kuwepo na takwimu sahihi za kila mgeni anayeingia nchini na mahali alipo kila wakati na anafanya nini. Our system is just not good enough. Sasa mnaporuhusu free movement halafu at the same time unasema utadhibiti wageni, unakua unaji-contradict.

 

[Ab-Titchaz]

Ukweli ni kwamba hili ni gumu sana kutekelezeka, kutokana na ukweli kwamba hatuna capacity ya kufuatilia haya mambo. Kuweza kufuatilia hili inabidi kuwepo na takwimu sahihi za kila mgeni anayeingia nchini na mahali alipo kila wakati na anafanya nini. Our system is just not good enough. Sasa mnaporuhusu free movement halafu at the same time unasema utadhibiti wageni, unakua unaji-contradict.

..Ongeza ufisadi uliopo uhamiaji na wakulu wa TRA.

 

[Abdulhalim]

..Ongeza ufisadi uliopo uhamiaji na wakulu wa TRA.

AChilia hayo Abuu, nimesoma hapo hiyo article na nimecheka sana. Wanasema nchi zote zina matatizo ya unemployment and under-employment. Pia wana matatizo ya kuwa na skilled labour, sasa najiuliza hii movemnt itasaidia nini in the first place? Hizi siasa zitatuua wajameni.

 

[Ab-Titchaz]

AChilia hayo Abuu, nimesoma hapo hiyo article na nimecheka sana. Wanasema nchi zote zina matatizo ya unemployment and under-employment. Pia wana matatizo ya kuwa na skilled labour, sasa najiuliza hii movemnt itasaidia nini in the first place? Hizi siasa zitatuua wajameni.

Hii movement inategemea unaiangalia ukiwa upande gani. Wakenya wanaona watakuja Bongo kuwekeza dili feki feki ya kuiba na mafisadi ndani ya serikali ya Bongo wanaona mtaji...dili ya kula. Kwa usawa huo kazi ipo kweli maana atakaeumia ni mlalahoi na kina yakhe wa uswahilini.

I like your question as to whether ikiwa sote tuna matatizo ya unemployment na skilled labour, tutasaidianaje katika hili. Ndo maana mwenzio naona kuchoka tu na hawa wanasiasa wetu.

 

[Abdulhalim]

Hii movement inategemea unaiangalia ukiwa upande gani. Wakenya wanaona watakuja Bongo kuwekeza dili feki feki ya kuiba na mafisadi ndani ya serikali ya Bongo wanaona mtaji...dili ya kula. Kwa usawa huo kazi ipo kweli maana atakaeumia ni mlalahoi na kina yakhe wa uswahilini.

I like your question as to whether ikiwa sote tuna matatizo ya unemployment na skilled labour, tutasaidianaje katika hili. Ndo maana mwenzio naona kuchoka tu na hawa wanasiasa wetu.

Ni vigumu kujua kwamba wanasiasa wanafanya haya oout of ignorance au ni vile kuna nguvu nje ya ile macho inaweza kuona..maana hii ndio ada ya viongozi mafisadi.

Of course wakenya wanajua nchini kwetu mambo hayapo sawa na wanataka kuutumia vyema huu mwanya vilivo. Wako well aware kwamba kwao opportunities ni chache na huku kuna potential ya ajira kutoka kwa Corporate za Nje kwenye mirija wanayoweka huku Tz kwa sasa kutunyonya.

Ila sidhani kama kuna watz wenye kimuhemuhe cha kwenda Kenya kuajiriwa, sidhani.

On other hand kuna suala la uhalifu wa kutumia nguvu na kutumia kalamu ambapo sasa utakuwa umepewa blank cheque. Ikumbukwe wakenya sasa wapo juu kwenye uizi wanamatch-up na wanaija. Hii itakuwa ni disaster kwa kweli. Nakumbuka majuzi Un of Dom walitaka malecturer jamaa wakatuma applicatiosn kwa fujo only kubaini kuwa nyingi zao zilikua na vyeti vya kufoji. Huku kupenda shortcut kutaendelea kutugharimu mpaka pale tutakapoamua kwa dhati kujirekebisha.

 

[Nyasirori]

Kwa sasa tu tayari haiwezi kudhibiti hao wageni na ajira walizonazo hapa nchini. Mfano mzuri ukienda migodini na kwenye mahotel ya kitalii utakuta wageni kibao kutoka Africa Kusini na Kenya.Wanaitwa Ma-Expat cha ajabu utakuta baadhi yao hawajui kusoma wala kuandika na waanlipana mishara mikubwa sana kuliko wazawa + Manyanyaso.
Haya makubaliano mengine yamafanyika kisiasa sana na hakuna utafiti wa Kitaalamu. Na pia naamini hata kama kuna utafiti wa kitaalamu, wenye mapendekezo mazuri, unaweza kupingwa na usifuatwe. Kwani siasa na mwanasiasa, wana uwezo wa kuharibu mawazo ya wataalamu

 

[Mlenge]

Wacha1: There is no other option apart from Tanzania pulling out of EAC completely, and immediately, definitely before July 2010. Anything less than that is less than meaningful.

Ab-Titchaz: Tanzania is no longer a sovereign country. Big portion of our sovereignty is already surrendered to EAC. The rest shall follow soon. July 2010 is the biggest of them all.

In secondary schools there are governments, with parliaments, elections, presidents and other dignitaries. All these are students. So having a parliament, president, ministers, motorcades, and the like, does not equal sovereignty. Ask Zanzibaris. They have all of those. Is Zanzibar sovereign?

EAC has Parliament, Court, and some form of executive. It has national antherm. It will, (and in some instance, it has already done) unify "Usalama wa Taifa", Uhamiaji, Benki kuu, Majeshi ya Ulinzi na Usalama, and everything and anything.

So it is either we are in (Mbuzi wa Shughuli) or we are out.

Mlenge

 

[Mlenge]

Abdulahim na Nyasirori,

TRA inavunjwa, badala yake inakuwapo ya EAC nzima.
Uhamiaji unakuwa wa EAC nzima.
Hakuna tena JW... Jeshi linakuwa la pamoja.

Namiulizeni swali, Nyerere angemwambia Karume Senior kwamba muungano maana yake hakuna cha Rais wa Zanzibar wala nini. Muungano ungekuwapo?

Mlenge

 

[Renegade]

Abdulahim na Nyasirori,

TRA inavunjwa, badala yake inakuwapo ya EAC nzima.
Uhamiaji unakuwa wa EAC nzima.
1.Hakuna tena JW... Jeshi linakuwa la pamoja.

2.Namiulizeni swali, Nyerere angemwambia Karume Senior kwamba muungano maana yake hakuna cha Rais wa Zanzibar wala nini. Muungano ungekuwapo?

Mlenge

Mkuu Fanuel,
Moja. Niweke wazi juu ya hii ya kuwa na jeshi moja, do you have any document? please, wengine tuko gizani.
Mbili. Kiukweli hiyo ingekuwa ngumu kwa Karume kusurender kila kitu kwa Julius.Muungano ni wa nchi lakini kama muungano unapoteza utaifa basi huo hautakuwa na maana sana, Karume angekuwa na wakati mgumu kwa upande wa zenji .
We need EAC but not in a way Politicians want.

 

[MkamaP]

Hao wote viongozi wa EA wanawachezesha shere tum ili wapate sehemu ya kuweka watu wao wanapokosa ajira kama huko kwenye bunge la EA.Lakini kuungana sahauni.

Kama wanashindwa kokabidhi serikali kwa local mwenzao ,leo ndo mnafikiri wataweza kukabidhi kwa mgeni.?

Wanawapigisha politiks tu hapo ili media na wananchi wapate cha kuzungumzia.

 

[Mlenge]

Renegade,

That's exactly the same tactic. If you tell Kikwete today that what you are signing it means no more motorcades, the chances of him accepting the deal are nil. If you tell members of parliament that what they are signing is the end of them being called 'waheshimiwa', even they would say no. As long as they remain ceremonious, it doesn't matter if they give away their powers, and most importantly, their control of the country.

1. That's the meaning of Federation. Zanzibar ina jeshi? I challenge you to read the EAC treaty and protocols. We are underway to have EAC army... And while we are waiting for it to complete, Tanzania's JW have signed agreement that, if there are "chaos" in our country, the other armies can invade our country without invitation. For instance, if we say NO to EAC later, they can say, 'there are chaos' in Tanzania, and invade, without breaking any international law. To quote the two references linked (emphasis added),

During his address at the East African security meeting at Munyonyo in October 2009, President Yoweri Museveni called for the creation of an East-African defence force to solve conflicts and counter threats both from within and outside the region.

, and,

Venturing into previously sensitive territory, defence chiefs from the East African Community member states have signed off on a radical policy proposal that creates the framework for military intervention if a member state falls into crisis.
This was one of the decisions arrived at during a high-level meeting of chiefs of defence forces and their technical staff and defence liaison officers.

2. They know that as long as people keep, at the moment, or think they shall keep their titles, they won't mind signing anything, just anything, and absolutely anything.

So, if anyone wants to make Tanzania safer, and Tanzania merely exist, it's now or never.

Mlenge

 

[Mlenge]

MkamaP, you must be joking, right?

 

[Koba]

.....who cares?

It's not a military or govertm jobs,corporate world haiangalii natinaolity, kama kenyans or ugandans can deliver will get the job na si vinginevyo,siasa nyingi sana nyie na hizo mnazopiga ni kelele tuu bora muanze kunoa skills zenu la sivyo mtaendelea kuwa marginalized, kama chinese/kenyan local contractor na kampuni yake can give me a cheap,fast and high quality house kwanini asipate job,in real life most of us here kama ni corporate will care less na nationality ya mtu kwenye kutoa kazi,hao machinga acha wapambane na wenzao labda wanaweza learn a thing or two,mnafikiri hao kenyans or whoever wakipata pesa inaishia wapi?

They will spend humo ndani kwenye biashara nyingine za wazawa maana watakula na kujaza bar,daladala na kupanga nyumba zenu etc, politics za protectionism ni rethoric tuu lakini in real world hazifanyi kazi maana most of the time source of cheap and hardworking labour ni immigrant and capitalist loves it

 

[MkamaP]

MkamaP, you must be joking, right?

Not at all

 

[Mlenge]

MkamaP: OK
Koba: Let say utawala wa Tanzania umezinduka, na umeamua kujitoa EAC.
Quoting Abdulahim:

Ni vigumu kujua kwamba wanasiasa wanafanya haya oout of ignorance au ni vile kuna nguvu nje ya ile macho inaweza kuona..maana hii ndio ada ya viongozi mafisadi.

Precisely that is the question. It probably is a lethal combination of both. Or they have very good reason they themselves know, but the rest of population do not.

Mlenge