Kikwete's populist move backfiring?

[Pundit]

Some say rais wetu mchumi amelikoroga kwa mara nyingine tena in the Iddi Amin tradition ya ku-print money ili kukuza uchumi.Yeye ameona solution ni kuongeza mishahara bila kuongeza uzalishaji, matokeo yake haya hapo chini.

Some say the move was needed to institute equity (or some semblance of it) in wages.

Some say curbing inflation and increasing productivity would have been more like it.

Your take?

Massive layoffs loom in the wake of new wages

2007-12-27 09:55:16
By Correspondents Michael Haonga and Timothy Kahoho


Massive layoffs of workers in the private sector are expected to affect over 30 per cent of the labour force if the government will not compromise with the employers over affordable rates of salaries before January 1, 2008.

All employers in the private sector have been ordered to comply with the government set new minimum wages effective next month (January 2008) as announced on October 8, this year by the Minister for Labour, Employment and Youth Development, John Chiligati.

But the Confederation of Tanzania Industries (CTI) has indicated that over 30 per cent of workers in the private sector could become jobless next month if no consensus is reached between CTI and the Government on the new rates of salaries to all workers of private sector.

The government had in June 2002 set minimum wage of TShs. 35,000 for rural areas and TShs. 48,000 for urban areas but in October this year, Minister Chiligati announced the minimum wage of Tshs. 65,000 for all domestic workers and barmaids and TShs. 80,000 for those in manufacturing sector with effect next month.

Reliable sources from CTI confirm that the entire labour force in private sector was about 500,000 people in which over 30 per cent of them would be terminated from employement.

``We have already submitted our proposals of new salary rates to the minister responsible with employment as the ones announced by him are not affordable rates, henceforth making over 30 per cent of the workforce in private sector be retrenched,`` argued Shah.

He said the minimum wage rise from TShs. 48,000 to TShs. 80,000 was economically not viable in comparison with other countries.

He argued that the wage of TShs. 80,000 is equivant to US $ 70.00 when the minimum wage in India is US $ 68.60, Bangladesh US $ 40.00, and Pakistan US $ 49.50.

Others are Vietnam US $ 44.00, China US $ 42.50, Sri Lanka US $ 37.33, Madagascar US $ 28.00, Nepal US $ 27.00, Nigeria US $ 45 and Kenya US $ 79.50.

According to Professor Mwesigwa Baregu the issue of coming up with the stipulated minimum wage was misshandled because it was not arrived at through a tripartite modality involving the three tripartite partners namely Government, employers and workers.

Speaking to this paper in a telephone interview on the issue, Professor Baregu said the emerging tug of war would have been avoided through involvement of the stakeholders and in, for instance, a case by case approach modality for compliance affordability without resulting in uncalled for redundance or closure of industries due to being beyond reach in complying to the set minimum wage.

 

[Steve Dii]

Hii kinamna naona ni enforcement ya blanket statements kuwa uchumi wa Tanzania unakua--- kinamna wanaona wakitangaza ongezeko la mishahara na kulazimisha litokee, basi ujumbe wao utakuwa umeufikia umma wa Kitanzania kuwa uchumi wa nchi umekua, yakuwa, yaani hata mishahara inaongezeka basi uchumi wetu umekua kweli kweli...(well, hayo yaweza kuwa maneno ya mkulima mmojawapo kutoka Imalaseko au Nyambiti)

Hebu ngoja niwaachie wachumi walielezee hili zaidi...

SteveD.

 

[MzalendoHalisi]

Serikali JK ubabaishaji tu!

Unamwaambiwa mwenye Bar awalipe Mabamaid 65,000 wakati anapata faida tu kidogo- watarudi tu mitaani - serikali ya kisanii siku zote sioni hata kimoja wanachokifanya kwa umakini!

Usanii tu na uteuzi wa viongozi kiushkaji!

 

[Mzee Mwanakijiji]

right on.. tatizo la mishahara ni nadharia ya Kikwete ya kupambana na kitu ambacho anakiita ni "umaskini wa kipato". Katika nadharia hii Rais Kikwete anaamini kuwa umasikini wa Watanzania ni kutokuwa na hela mfukoni hivyo tukiongeza hela mfukoni basi tunawapunguzia matatizo.

Tatizo kubwa ni kuwa hilo lingekuwa kweli kama factors nyingine zinakuwa constant. Kila mwaka tunabadili kodi ya mafuta na bidhaa muhimu (sijawahi kuelewa ni kwanini) na wakishafanya hivyo it changes everything. Kwa vile mafuta na bei nyingine haziwi stabilized kila mwaka basi kiasi chochote cha fedha mfukoni hakiwezi kutosha.

Sasa unapokuja na kusema kuanzia mwakani kiasi kipya cha mshahara ni hiki basi unajiweka katika kujilengesha. Tutaona wanavyokwenda lakini sidhani kama uamuzi wa kuongeza mshahara umefanya hali ya maisha kuwa na unafuu zaidi au la..

 

[Kasheshe]

If you ask me I better pay few people well so that others can look into alternative jobs,,, na kwa bahati nzuri hizo kazi zipo... lakini tunadanganyika na kugawana mshahara wa mtu mmoja watu watano...ili hali hiyo kazi ya watu 5 yaweza fanywa na mtu mmoja...

Hili limeikumba SMZ, they are supposed to lay off,,, lakini wanaogopa CUF watawapiga bao...


Kwa nchi kama ya kwetu hao wengine wakikosa kazi watatafuta namna nyingine and sometimes wanaweza kwenda kwenye uzalishaji!!!

Maoni tu ya mtu wa Ukanda wa Gaza...

 

[Pundit]

My take ni kwamba change yoyote ambayo haiambatani na production growth inakuwa ni hogwash kama change ya Iddi Amin kuprint hela au Mugabe kuondoa sifuri katika noti, baada ya muda kidogo mnarudi pale pale.

Sasa hata kama watu wakitii amri ya serikali matokeo yake itakuwa the uncharacteristic economic trend ya kwamba inflation na unemployment zote zitaenda juu, kwa maana watu wachache watalipwa vizuri na ku-afford kununua vitu kwa bei nzuri, wakati wengi watashindwa hata kupata kazi kutokana na labor cost kuwa juu.

At the end of the day kutakuwa na under the table economy itakayokosesha serikali mapato au worse still watu watafunga biashara ndogondogo kwa kuhofia kutoweza kumudu labor cost.

Tunataka majibu rahisi kwa maswali magumu, badala ya kuongeza uzalishaji na kupunguza inflation tunataka kuongeza mishahara, kwa uzalishaji gani tulio nao?

 

[Mzee Mwanakijiji]

Hivi sisi ni wajamaa au mabepari?

 

[Pundit]

Hivi sisi ni wajamaa au mabepari?

Lula wa Ndali anakwambia kwa mfano Kingunge ni "mkomonisti mbepari wa kijamaa"

Mzee alishindwa kutamka "ujamaa" kama siasa ya CCM na nchi juzi kwenye press conference akashikwa na kigugumizi cha ghafla.

Kazi.

 

[Koba]

lakini bora waongeze tuu maana from the get go wamelaliwa sana wafanyakazi kwa miaka mingi na hao wahindi,najua ni mkwala tuu ila mambo ya kutafuta super profit tuu,kuna uonezi mkubwa sana unaendelea pale kwa wafanyakazi,hao employer wana wish kama wangeweza wafanyiwe kazi bure kama kuna huo uwezekano,hakuna excuse hapo na kuanza kuleta theory nyingi za uchumi eti massive layoff...walipe waache kulalia watu tunajua kinachoendelea

 

[Kichuguu]

Tatizo hili lisingekuwapo kama serikali ingesimamia madini yetu sawasawa na kujipatia mapato mazuri yatokanayo na madini hivyo kuiwezesha kupunguza kodi kwa kiwango fulani; hatua ambayo ingewezesha biashara mbalimbali kupandisha mishahara ya wafanyakazi wake bila kuathiri mitaji yao.

 

[BAK]

Swali zuri sana kwa Muungwana hilo...labda atakuwa safarini US katika siku za karibuni kuendeleza uVDG. Itakuwa vizuri kama utamtwanga nalo kama utamuona.

 

[Kitila Mkumbo]

Maamuzi yeyote yanayofanywa bila evidence lazima yatabaki fire. Inabidi wauweke ukada pembeni wanapo-deal na serious issue kama hizi. Walipaswa kufanya a very comprehensive review study ili kujua the hows and the effects of such a major and historic move. yeye alitaka makofi akakurupuka, sasa hii itamsumbua kweli!

 

[Mzee Mwanakijiji]

Lula wa Ndali anakwambia kwa mfano Kingunge ni "mkomonisti mbepari wa kijamaa"

Mzee alishindwa kutamka "ujamaa" kama siasa ya CCM na nchi juzi kwenye press conference akashikwa na kigugumizi cha ghafla.

Kazi.

nimecheka hapa hadi sina hamu. Sasa endapo uchumi unakua basi kuna sababu ya kulipa watu vizuri pia sivyo? Ni kwa kiasi gani walipwe serikali ndiyo inaamua. Lakini ni vigezo gani walitumia kufikia namba walizofikia?

 

[Steve Dii]

If you ask me I better pay few people well so that others can look into alternative jobs,,, na kwa bahati nzuri hizo kazi zipo... lakini tunadanganyika na kugawana mshahara wa mtu mmoja watu watano...ili hali hiyo kazi ya watu 5 yaweza fanywa na mtu mmoja...

Hili limeikumba SMZ, they are supposed to lay off,,, lakini wanaogopa CUF watawapiga bao...


Kwa nchi kama ya kwetu hao wengine wakikosa kazi watatafuta namna nyingine and sometimes wanaweza kwenda kwenye uzalishaji!!!

Maoni tu ya mtu wa Ukanda wa Gaza...

Kilitime, hayo maneno juu ni mtu aliye ridhika... na asiyejali; kwa namna nyingine kama wewe ni kiongozi au kama wewe ungelikuwa kiongozi, ungesimama jukwaani na kuwaambia watanzania: MTAJIJU .

Na kama hilo ni jibu lako; Kwanini serikali isianzishe kampeni za kutangaza ongezeko la uzalishaji kwa nguvu na mali kabla ya kutangaza ongezeko la mishahara.... huku ndiyo kutembea bila kupitia hatua ya kutambaa au?

SteveD.

 

[Bowbow]

Mimi naomba kuangalia kwa mtazamo mwingine tofauti.

Hivi kweli kati ya wanaJF hapa nani anweza kuishi kwa 35,000 kwa mwezi? una mke na watoto wanakutegemea nauli tu yenyewe 20,000 na bado unafanya kazi more than 8hrs a day.

Pili Tatizo halipo kwenye mishahara ila productivity. Mfano nenda kwenye vibaa vidogo vidogo wahudumu 5 kila mhudumu anahudumia meza 2. watu wanakuja at a time hawazidi 15. wenye bar hawaoni hasara maana kumlipa mtu 15,000 kwa mwezi mara 5 ni 75,000. So wasilalamike they can not afford wanaweza kama wakibadili mfumo wao wa kazi.

Mbona yapo makampuni mengi sijasikia wakikomplain ila ya wahindi na waarabu tu??????. Fuatilia kwa makini wanaolia lia hiyo ni wachache.

Watanzania tukiwa serious kwenye kuajiri na kuhaikisha yule uliyemwajiri anazalisha hizi kelele za chura hazitakuwepo.

Kuhu wahudumu wa ndani, hii ni hatu mojawapo ya kupunguza ajira za wahudumu wa nyumbani maana sio lazima kuwa na mhudumu wa ndani maana kwa Tanzania bado sio kweli mtu na mkewe wote wanafanya kazi na kama ni hivyo then wanaweza kulipa.

Tujiulize sisi tulioko huku umatumbini, ukibeba box saa moja unalipwa kiasuii gani kwa saa, ukisafisha vyombo hotelini, utatandika vitanda na kufanya usafi kwa saa unalipwaje? Ni nini kipimo chao kwamba in one hrs utakuwa umekamilisha kazi kiasi gani.

Ukija kwenye uchumi kinacho-determine uajiri watu kiasi gani inategemea unataka output kiasi gani. So wale wanaosema watapunguza wafanyakazi maana yake tutarajie kupungua kwa bidhaa zao sokoni kitu ambacho naamini sio kweli maaana akipunguza tu output na faida inapungua.

Pamoja na hayo njia ya kuadjust ni pamoja na kupunguza overhead cost. kwa makampuni yaliyotoa ajira kwas wageni kukatisha ajira zao.

Ingawa kuna politics ndani ya hili na kidogo haliendani na ukuaji wa uchumi mimi bado nalisupport.

 

[Steve Dii]

lakini bora waongeze tuu maana from the get go wamelaliwa sana wafanyakazi kwa miaka mingi na hao wahindi,najua ni mkwala tuu ila mambo ya kutafuta super profit tuu,kuna uonezi mkubwa sana unaendelea pale kwa wafanyakazi,hao employer wana wish kama wangeweza wafanyiwe kazi bure kama kuna huo uwezekano,hakuna excuse hapo na kuanza kuleta theory nyingi za uchumi eti massive layoff...walipe waache kulalia watu tunajua kinachoendelea

Koba, heshima yako mkuu, swala lako ni la muhimu ila utatuzi wake nadhani ni tofauti na huu wa kutangaza mishahara kama jinsi ilivyo sasa.

Tatizo kama hiilo litakuwa ni unyanyasaji wa wafanyakazi kimshahara makazini na kuna systems zipo kushughulikia hilo. Lakini kwa tamko kama hili sasa inabidi tujiulize ni asilimia ngapi ya wananchi wanaoajiliwa na Waasia kama unavyosema wewe watakao faidika na ongezeko hilo na je ni asilimia ngapi watanufaika na employers wa asili ya Kiafrika?

Hivyo basi, mimi naona ukiangalia hivyo utajikuta ongezeko la mishahara kwa kulazimisha employers namna hiyo ita backfire kwa Waafrika wenzetu na siyo hao Waasia kama unavyosema, maana Watanzania walio ajiliwa na Waasia ni asilimia ndogo sana ya working population nchini mwetu. Na ndiyo maana ni bora kusisitiza wigo wa kipato kutoka uzalishaji kwanza ili chochote kinacho patikana kiwe kinathamani, maana ongezeko la uzalishaji litatufanya tuwe na shillingi isiyo yumbika ovyo na yenye thamani hata kama mtu analipwa kidogo hapa nyumbani ili mradi tu hiyo hela inamfanya afanye mengi zaidi katika kipindi cha mwezi mmoja kabla hajapata mshahara mwingine.

SteveD.

 

[Jasusi]

Mkomunisti, mbepari wa kijamaa. Imebidi nikune kichwa mara tatu. Kwangu kuna neno fupi sana la kumwelezea kuwadi Kingunge: opportunist!

 

[Bowbow]

Hivyo basi, mimi naona ukiangalia hivyo utajikuta ongezeko la mishahara kwa kulazimisha employers namna hiyo ita backfire kwa Waafrika wenzetu na siyo hao Waasia kama unavyosema, maana .

SteveD.

SteveD
Heshima mbele, naamini ulisoma kitabu cha KULI wakati wa harakati
je bado tuendelee na ukuli? na hadi Lini? na ni nani atatulinda?

Juzi, juzi tumekuwa tumkimkandia EL kwa jinsi tunavyotafsiri Uhuru wa Tanganyika, ni lini hali hii itabadilika? Hata kama imefanywa kisiasa, kwanzia sasa itakuwa inafanywa proffessionally.

Huu ni wakati mwafaka wa watanzania kusikia hii ni nchi yao na wanastaili kulipwa mishahara sawa na nguvu zao wanazotumia.

Naamini uko U.S, Je huwa unalipwa mshahara kama Foreigner which is over and above the US citizens sehemu unayofanya kazi?

Je U.S hakuna minimum wage na minimum wage per hour.

Wahindi wakiambia waweke wazi annual returns zao kwa wanachi waweze kujua hawataki kwa nini wasiwe punished kwa kuweka kiwapo probably ambacho kipo juu ya uwezo wao.(Lack of transparency ya makampuni ndio chanzo kimojawapo cha haya yote)

Nenda kwa makampuni yetu ya bongo(wahindi na waarabu) ukiwa mweusi hata kama ni proffessional u will dance the music.

 

[Rwabugiri]

Mkomunisti, mbepari wa kijamaa. Imebidi nikune kichwa mara tatu. Kwangu kuna neno fupi sana la kumwelezea kuwadi Kingunge: opportunist!

jasus, you took the word frm my mouth, yeye kila ngoma ipigwayo yumo, alimradi tumbo lake linajaa!

Enzi zile za secondary tulikuwa tukiwatania watu wa namna hii kwamba they think by using medullaoblangata, and not brain! kwani wangekuwa wakitumia brain wangekumbuka waliyo kuwa wakiayaamini na kuyahubiri few yrs back!

 

[Jasusi]

BowBow,
Ni kosa la nani? Wahindi wakilipa below minimum wage wanalindwa na nani? Wanalindwa na viongozi waliochaguliwa na wananchi wa Tanzania. Hapo ndipo shida ilipo. Ili mradi kiongozi A kajengewa nyumba na Patel utasikia hizi kauli: "afadhali kuchimba madini kuliko kulima." Hilo lilishatamkwa na kiongozi mmoja wa awamu ya nne.