DEVELOPING: Kapuya proposes a good idea..but will it work ?

Kapuya calls for transferability of benefits, pensions

2008-07-17 11:03:02
By Correspondent Rosemary Mirondo


The Confederation of East African Trade Union (EATUC) has been asked to look into the transferability of benefits and pensions.

Minister for Labour, Employment and Youth Development, Prof. Juma Kapuya has called upon EATUC to put in place a mechanism for facilitating migration of workers in a bid to rectify the protocol on free movement of labour services and right of establishment.

Prof Kapuya made the call in Dar es Salaam during a conference on `Harmonisation of Labour Laws in East Africa` which brought together five member countries of Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi.

He said the issue of comprehensive social security was a necessary package in the whole process.

The minister said in most partner states, social security covered a small fraction of the population, citing an example of Tanzania where the social security covered only 5.4 per cent of the population.

The percentage includes contributions from government, parastatal organisations and few non governmental organisations employees, while the majority is left out.

Prof. Kapuya said transferability of pension schemes was a critical area in need of scrutiny because once a remedy was found; it would allay fears prevailing among workers in the five member countries.

``The governments should take a lead to create risk free environment amid insecurity brought about by unfair competition or imbalanced movement of labour,`` he said.

Speaking on behalf of EATUC chairman, TUCTA secretary General, Nestory Ngulla said regional integration could not be realised if labour and employment issues were not addressed and harmonised.

He said the new labour laws in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda were formulated through ILO`s assistance and were to some extent harmonised.

``There is a need for member countries to understand harmonisation of labour laws as we move towards establishment of the EAC common market,`` he said.

LETS DISCUSS

The government said yesterday it has gone almost half way in fulfilling President Jakaya Kikwete`s promise to create a million jobs and should be through with the task by 2010 as planned.

According to Labour, Employment and Youth Development minister Juma Kapuya, 43.7 per cent of the target has been achieved.

He made the remarks when unveiling the budget estimates for his ministry for financial year 2008/09 in the National Assembly here yesterday.

?Information obtained in June 2008 says a total of 437,205 new jobs had been created in various sectors from January 2006 to December 2007, which is equivalent to 43.7 per cent of the one million jobs goal expected to be attained by 2010,? he said.

Prof Kapuya clarified that the assessment excluded jobs created in agriculture a sector that employs some 70 per cent of the country?s populace, adding that the private sector created the biggest number of job opportunities.

An index attached to the ministry?s budget speech and made available to House members and the media yesterday shows that 58,399 jobs were created in the public sector, 183,789 in the private sector and 195,017 in the informal sector.

However, House Community Development Committee chairperson Jenista Mhagama said the government was moving too slowly in implementing the initiative on creating the one million jobs.

She challenged the ministry to elaborate on the challenges it saw lying ahead of it, noting: ``Given the fact that the private sector has vast potential to create even more jobs in the future, our committee strongly advises the government to exploit this avenue more fully.``

She called on the rest of the government to join hands with the ministry in pushing the course further for the good of the nation.

Presenting views of the opposition on the estimates, Labour,
Employment and Youth Development shadow minister Salim Abdallah Khalfan underlined the importance of improving labour relations at workplaces.

``True democracy in countries the world over starts with workers having vibrant trade unions that operate freely and that can demand their members` basic rights,`` he said.

Prof Kapuya asked the House to endorse for his ministry 6.5bn/- for recurrent expenditure and 6.2bn/- for the implementation of development activities during the year.