By Florence Mugarula
The Citizen Reporter
Dar es Salaam. The government is working on a system under which work permits will be issued by one agency in a bid to stem the unregulated flow of foreigners into the local labour market. The move has been prompted by the discovery that the current system is open to abuse  as permits are issued by three largely un-co-ordinated agencies—the Immigration Department, the Tanzania Investment Centre (TIC) and the Ministry of Labour and Employment.

The latter’s role is mainly advisory, according to Permanent Secretary Eric Shitindi,  who was briefing members of the Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee  (PAC) in Dar es Salaam yesterday.

Due to lack of effective co-ordination, Mr Shitindi said, it was very difficult to compile accurate and precise information and data on the status of foreigners working in the country.

“We have already started the process of establishing the new system,” he said, “which we  are confident will help to solve problems related to issuing work permits to foreigners.”

The PS  said the loopholes in the current system worsened the problem of unemployment, to some extent, as work permits issued fraudulently to undeserving foreigners and jobs held by those who sneaked in and were employed clandestinely translated into blocked opportunities for nationals.  

Mr Shitindi said the envisaged centralised system for issuing work permits would enable the government to determine the number and status of foreign workers, but current initiatives would have to be pursued cautiously as the problem stems from the three laws.

The permits are currently provided under Immigration Act No. 6 of 1995, Tanzania Investment Act No 26 of 1997 and the National Employment Promotion Service Act No. 9 of 1999.

The PAC members supported the plan and said implementation should be speeded up to create more job opportunities for Tanzanian youth.

The committee chairman, Mr John Cheyo, said it was necessary to amend the laws so as to introduce strict conditions for foreigners wishing to work in the country.
He proposed that Tanzania adopt the system applicable in many European countries, under which immigration officers affixed the ‘No Employment’ stamp on the visas of incoming foreigners, whose status would then be altered upon submission of valid work permits.

“This is a brilliant idea that is very effective in many European countries,” he added. “Sadly for us in Tanzania, foreigners come in free and just grab our children’s jobs. We need to rectify this anomaly very fast. ”

PS  Shitindi reported that new system, now on the drawing board, would guide all sectors on the employment of foreigners and added that the ministry was treating the matter very carefully.

On the overall employment outlook, data from the ministry indicates that only 12 percent of Tanzanian youth are unemployed. Out of a population of 43 million, only 19 million people are employed and employed youth aged between 15 and 24 number 8.5 million.

Mr Shitindi said 14 per cent of people in urban areas and seven per cent in rural areas were jobless.
The ministry considers all productive activities as employment and the figures for employed people cover all people who are self employed and those employed in industries, public offices, private sectors and other economic activities.

PAC Chairman Cheyo challenged the figures, claiming they did not reflect the real situation. He said the government must address the problem seriously, cautioning that failure to do so would be a recipe for violence in future since many educated youths were roaming the streets with nothing meaningful to do.

“The government is spending more than Sh270 billion every year as loans for funding higher education for our youth,” Mr Cheyo said, “but lack of jobs after their studies means that we are creating an ever-swelling disillusioned pool, which is very dangerous for the nation.”

The Musoma Urban MP (Chadema), Vincent Joseph Nyerere, said the ministry should explore opportunities for Tanzanian youth abroad, citing the high demand in China for English language teachers. He wondered why Tanzania could not export labour when Kenya was doing so. 

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