Members of Parliament were yesterday up in arms
demanding the government to officially distinguish the types of jobs
which can be done by Tanzanians and foreigners.
Debating the Non-Citizens Employment Regulation Bill 2014, they
said doing so would end complaints and confusion in employment related
matters. They said the bill, which was tabled by the Minister for Labour
and Employment Gaudentia Kabaka, must identify which types of jobs
should be done by Tanzanians or foreigners.
“We have a lot of foreigners who are doing jobs in various sectors
that could be done by local people. Why doesn’t the government come up
with a list showing who is to do what job?” asked Ester Bulaya (Special
Seats-CCM). She said in Tanzania there were a lot of foreigners doing
jobs that could be done by citizens in tourism, mining and
telecommunication companies.
For his part, Aden Rage (Tabora Urban-CCM) said, if passed, the
bill had a lot of advantages for Tanzanians, particularly the youth. He
proposed that all human resources personnel employed in foreign
companies operating in the country should be Tanzanians.
“This would make more Tanzanians employed by those foreign
companies, instead of the current situation where they prefer to recruit
their colleagues,” he said.
In his contribution, Felix Mkosamali (Muhambwe-NCCR Mageuzi) said
the proposed bill was very weak. According to the bill, he said, all the
changes would affect Tanzania mainland, leaving Zanzibar alone.
Said he: “Zanzibar is part of the Union. We have to make sure that
the bill also touches the isles since the power vested on the
Commissioner of Labour would not touch foreigners working in the
Isles.”
However, the MP said the government must also identify all jobs
that would be done by local people and foreigners. Mkosamali urged the
government to have a mechanism that would employ only qualified
foreigners.
In his contribution, Zitto Kabwe cautioned the government not to
rush, but handle the bill more seriously. He said Tanzania was not
isolated and there was fear that, if passed, the Act would place
Tanzania in a difficult situation.
“I think we have to postpone this bill because it needs a lot of
amendments since Tanzania has signed a lot of international agreements
which require consultations,” he said.
As an example, he said Rwanda, Uganda and Kenya have abolished work
permits in their countries and Tanzania might follow suit, hence the
bill must check all these situations.
Murtaza Mangungu (Kilwa North-CCM) urged Tanzanians not to complain
for lack of employment since some of them do not have work discipline.
“There are some Tanzanians who do not have discipline in sleeping,
eating, speaking or time management. It will be difficult for them to be
employed in local or foreign companies,” he said.
Earlier, the deputy chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on
Community Development, Albert Ntabaliba, advised the Ministry of Labour
and Employment to make sure that the issue of permits is handled by the
Commissioner for Labour and should not to be delegated.
He said the Ministry should come up with more details on issuance of work permit class A for foreign investors.
In response, Minister Kabaka said the bill which was read for the
second time was brought due to various economic changes and
technological demands. These have been among main factors of labour
movement from one country to another.
She said the bill was also brought before parliament due to the
confusion with the current Act which enables two authorities to provide
work permits to foreigners.
She said the Immigration commissioner provides residence permits
class A, B and C including those for Carry on Temporary Assignments
(CTA).
According to her, the Commissioner of Labour was also supposed to
issue work permits, but due to various reasons a similar assignment is
done by the Commissioner of Immigration and most CTA permits are not
used as intended.
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