Let us safeguard jobs
DAR ES SALAAM: SAFEGUARDING jobs refer to roles within organisations that focus on implementing policies, providing training, assessing risks and intervening to prevent and respond to the same, ensuring a safe environment for those in their care.
Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa was quoted yesterday calling on African trade unions to develop strategic measures that will help workers adapt to global technological advancements and protect their jobs.
He said that doing so will help reduce the risk of job losses brought about by the arrival of machines and the use of new technologies, including Artificial Intelligence (AI).
There is a risk of people losing their jobs as modern machines and systems take over tasks that would normally be done by workers. We must therefore establish a plan to provide continuous training aligned with technological changes in order to prepare workers for the new types of jobs that are emerging.
It is good that Tanzania has put in place strategies to respond to the changes, including promoting the proper use of new technologies such as AI while emphasising the protection of workers’ rights and privacy. “Technology must protect human dignity and not undermine the value of work.”
To cope with AI’s impact on jobs, we should focus on developing uniquely human skills like creativity and emotional intelligence, embrace continuous learning and upskilling to adapt to new AI tools and find ways to collaborate with AI to automate routine tasks.
Individuals and organisations should also foster an adaptable, flexible mindset, with organisations providing training and clear communication to support employees through the transition and build trust.
As the PM said, there is an important focus – empowering workers through various programmes that will enable them to acquire additional skills in their professions.
This is important in order to ensure that our people, especially the youth, are equipped with the knowledge and skills required, particularly in areas of the green and digital economies. For individuals, they should cultivate skills that AI struggles to replicate, such as critical thinking, creativity, emotional intelligence, complex problemsolving and collaboration.
Commit to lifelong learning should be on cards. They should proactively seek opportunities to upskill and reskill, staying informed about AI trends and learning how to use new AI tools to enhance your work.
If it is necessary they should agree and embrace AI collaboration, that is to learn to work alongside AI by using it to automate routine tasks, improve decision-making and leverage its capabilities to increase productivity.
