{CHOLERA continues to ravage several parts of the country. So far, 40 people have died in Dar es Salaam as new patients emerge every day.}
ATE Executive Director, Dr Aggrey Mlimuka, said yesterday that the employers have high hopes on the new government as regards to reduction of costs of doing business and improved productivity.
However, he said, employers were concerned on the Workers Compensation Fund (WCF) Act because it increases the burden on them.
He said the law requires employers to contribute one per cent of their payroll to cover employees injured at work. Apart from covering employees who sustain injuries, an Act also provides for compensation of the family of workers who may have died while on duty, hence increasing unnecessary burden to employers.
“A number of employers already have reliable medical insurance packages in place and feel that this Fund comes as an additional cost and to make matters worse no monies will be dished out to employees as the Fund tries to grow its financial base,” said Dr Mlimuka.
According to him, the Association was pleased on learning the coming on of Dr Magufuli with the phrase of ‘Hapa Kazi Tu,’ loosely translated as “pulling up socks and working hard,” but ATE has the feelings that the phrase calls for seriousness in addressing issues affecting employers as well.
Dr Mlimuka said another legislation which needs review is the law on employment of noncitizens, saying if left untouched Tanzania will be accused of xenophobia, a factor that would chase investors away.
He said employers would love to see more relaxed labour and migration laws on foreigners working in the country vis a vis the lack of qualified Tanzanian workers in specialised and nonspecialised fields.
“At the end of the day, it must not matter where the expertise is coming from as the issue at hand is a committed workforce in general that contributes towards development of the nation,” he said.
However, he said, it was crucial for Tanzania to improve its education system to balance supply and demand in the labour market in line with employers’ expectations.
“With a new regime and the president determined to push development of the country forward, ATE and employers need to be unified more than ever before to ensure concerns to workplaces are timely worked out,” Mr Mlimuka stressed.
ATE officials were in Mwanza for a week long survey targeted to persuade more employers to join the Association. ATE Communications and Marketing Manager, Ms Joyce Nangai, said more than 20 employers were reached and are set to join the association, which has just opened an office in Mwanza as part of its mission to move its services closer to members. ATE is the most representative Employers Organisation in the country. It is a consultative advisory organisation on employment and labour matters.
Formerly known as the Federation of Tanganyika Employers (FTE), ATE was formed in 1960 by a number of companies, industries and association of employers.
It is one of the three tripartite forums that address all industrial relations and labour related issues at sectoral and national levels in Tanzania. Other forums are Government of Tanzania and Trade Union
ATE Executive Director, Dr Aggrey Mlimuka, said yesterday that the employers have high hopes on the new government as regards to reduction of costs of doing business and improved productivity.
However, he said, employers were concerned on the Workers Compensation Fund (WCF) Act because it increases the burden on them.
He said the law requires employers to contribute one per cent of their payroll to cover employees injured at work. Apart from covering employees who sustain injuries, an Act also provides for compensation of the family of workers who may have died while on duty, hence increasing unnecessary burden to employers.
“A number of employers already have reliable medical insurance packages in place and feel that this Fund comes as an additional cost and to make matters worse no monies will be dished out to employees as the Fund tries to grow its financial base,” said Dr Mlimuka.
According to him, the Association was pleased on learning the coming on of Dr Magufuli with the phrase of ‘Hapa Kazi Tu,’ loosely translated as “pulling up socks and working hard,” but ATE has the feelings that the phrase calls for seriousness in addressing issues affecting employers as well.
Dr Mlimuka said another legislation which needs review is the law on employment of noncitizens, saying if left untouched Tanzania will be accused of xenophobia, a factor that would chase investors away.
He said employers would love to see more relaxed labour and migration laws on foreigners working in the country vis a vis the lack of qualified Tanzanian workers in specialised and nonspecialised fields.
“At the end of the day, it must not matter where the expertise is coming from as the issue at hand is a committed workforce in general that contributes towards development of the nation,” he said.
However, he said, it was crucial for Tanzania to improve its education system to balance supply and demand in the labour market in line with employers’ expectations.
“With a new regime and the president determined to push development of the country forward, ATE and employers need to be unified more than ever before to ensure concerns to workplaces are timely worked out,” Mr Mlimuka stressed.
ATE officials were in Mwanza for a week long survey targeted to persuade more employers to join the Association. ATE Communications and Marketing Manager, Ms Joyce Nangai, said more than 20 employers were reached and are set to join the association, which has just opened an office in Mwanza as part of its mission to move its services closer to members. ATE is the most representative Employers Organisation in the country. It is a consultative advisory organisation on employment and labour matters.
Formerly known as the Federation of Tanganyika Employers (FTE), ATE was formed in 1960 by a number of companies, industries and association of employers.
It is one of the three tripartite forums that address all industrial relations and labour related issues at sectoral and national levels in Tanzania. Other forums are Government of Tanzania and Trade Union
DAILY NEWS
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