Widen scope of empowering entrepreneurs, govt directs OSHA
The government has directed the Occupational Safety and Health Authority (OSHA) to widen the scope of incubation programme for entrepreneurs in order to reach more groups in the production sector in the country.
The directive from Prof Joyce Ndalichako, Minister of State, Prime Minister’s Office (Labour, Youth, Employment and Persons with Disability), was issued on her behalf by OSHA’ board chairperson, Dr Adelhelm Meru.
It was during the 5th meeting of the OSHA’s workers council held in Arusha, this week when the government issued the directives.
The main agenda of the meeting was to evaluate the performance of the authority for the year 2021/22 fiscal year.
“I direct you to further widen the scope of the SMEs incubation programme to reach more groups of small entrepreneurs in all economic sectors.
“Doing so, we will greatly help our country because an informal sector consists of a big number of small entrepreneurs,” Dr Meru said.
According to the authority’s data for 2021/22, it reached 11,204 small scale miners and entrepreneurs against the target of reaching 10,000.
Dr Meru further urged all OSHA staff to work hard and embrace creativity so that they increase efficiency in the institution and the nation at large.
“I understand that this institution has a big role of protecting the workforce of our country, and according to the current situation, the authority still has an uphill task to do since the number of workplaces has continued to increase in the country,” he said.
OSHA’s Chief Executive Officer Khadija Mwenda said in 2021/22 the authority implemented its duties effectively, surpassing some of its targets during the year.
During the year, the authority managed to register 7,260 workplaces comparing to the target of registering 7,000 workplaces, hence attaining
103.7 per cent performance.
Ms Mwenda further informed that the authority conducted 217,102 inspections of workplaces against the target of 200,000 during the year.
Ministry’s Permanent Secretary Prof Jamal Katundu, when officially closing the meeting, asked all staff of the authority to work hard.
Prof Kitundu assured OSHA workers that the ministry will continue to accord cooperation to the authority’s management in addressing challenges.
