IN ensuring that the country has a competitive workforce in the labour market, the government expects to reduce the workforce without appropriate skills in the market from 77 per cent in 2021 to 54 per cent in 2025.
This was revealed by the Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office (Labour, Youth, Employment and Disabled), Mr Patrobas Katambi, when officiating the Association of Tanzania Employers (ATE) 64 Annual General Meeting and High-Level Conference held in Dar es Salaam on Thursday.
“To ensure that the national workforce acquires appropriate skills that can make them employed and self-employed, through the National Skills Development Strategy the government expects to reduce the workforce without appropriate skills in the labour market from 77 per cent in 2021 to 54 per cent in 2025,” he pointed out.
Commenting on the meeting with a theme ‘The Role of Social Partners in Promoting Skills Development through Workplace Learning Models (Apprenticeship, Internship and Practical Training)’, the deputy minister said the topic has come at the opportune time and it is in line with President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s efforts in cooperation with stakeholders in developing skills for young people for the well-being of the country’s economy.
“In ensuring that the skill development programmes are sustainable, the national budget for 2023/24 fiscal year, proposed to reduce Skills Development Levy (SDL) from four per cent to 3.5 per cent,” he said.
Mr Katambi noted that the government will continue to reduce the SDL gradually, in order to ease the burden on employers and create more employment opportunities in the country,” he added.
In particular, Mr Katambi urged all employers in the country, to provide opportunities to people with disabilities as well as conducting regular in office trainings, so as to develop skills in the workplace, create diversity and inclusion.
For her part, ATE Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Advocate Suzanne Ndomba commended the government for continuing to provide incentives/motivation through various policies and programmes including reducing SDL to stimulate the participation of employers in developing skills but also in creating employment opportunities in the country.
“ATE will continue to cooperate with the government and I hope, we will use today’s (Thursday) annual meeting to further improve the government’s plans and strategies in combating the challenges of unemployment in the country,” she added.
In a related development, ATE CEO said the 64th meeting has involved various activities including the election of a new ATE Chairman Mr Oscar Mgaya and the launch of the association membership portal.
