Govt: The bill to coordinate foreign work permit is in offing

THE Government through the ministry of labor and employment in collaboration with the stakeholders is preparing a proposal for the bill of permit that would enable to facilitate foreign employment activities in the country, the Parliament has been informed. The deputy minister for labor and employment Dr. Makongoro Mahanga told the Parliament last week in Dodoma that, the government’s aim is to have an Act that would give full authority to empower the government institution that would supervise foreign employment status in the country.  Dr. Makongoro noted that, the aim is to have a smooth control over the employment status of foreigners in the country  compared to how is being done now whereby the operation by private companies over the issue has apparently rendered ineffective the supervision work by the government. Dr. Mahanga  was responding a question by Catherine Magige (CCM0 who wanted to know why foreigners  are given permits to work in the specialization which could well be performed by the local people. Elaborating on this, Dr. Mahanga noted that, strategies being undertaken by his ministry in order to supervise the employment to foreigners are regular check up in various institutions.

Deputry Minister for Labour and employment, Dr. Makongoro Mahanga

He said legal action is being undertaken against the companies which are found to have violated the set rules which requires them to follow as succession plan to give priority of employment to locals, and failure to comply by the rules have their work permits snatched away. For example, Dr. Mahanga noted that, during the 2012/13 a total of 148 companies were inspected. Either he noted that, the government does not issue a work permit to foreigners guarantee positions which could be done by locals in the country’s local employment market. He said the ministry of labour does not have statistics records of foreigners who have been employed in the country doing the jobs which can be done by the locals. However, he has noted that his ministry has proposed the issuing of foreign work permits under the following grounds. The applicants should have a qualification on a particular job opportunity which has not been filled by any Tanzanian, such as medical experts as well as those in mining sector. Companies with contract deals with the government which is nationally accepted such as road construction companies and those of the real estate. Experts representing their countries in respect to a particular job, and those experts working in companies which have devoted to provide work training on the specific area of specialization to the local people.