Youth grab lion’s share as GCLA creates146,000 jobs
Dodoma: The Government Chemist Laboratory Authority (GCLA) has created employment opportunities for more than 146,567 people, the majority of them youth, after registering 4,406 stakeholders through the Customer Chemicals Management Portal (CCMP) and issuing various permits.
The Government Chief Chemist, Dr Fedelice Mafumiko, said this in Dodoma, noting that the opportunities were created between January 2025 and February this year.
“Every registered stakeholder must have at least five permanent employees and not less than five casual workers responsible for handling and loading activities. This means each registered stakeholder employs an average of at least 10 workers,” Dr Mafumiko told reporters, quoting the Chemicals Management and Control Act and its regulations.
Since most chemical-related activities require physical labour, he explained, a large proportion of these jobs are performed by young people, meaning the group has taken the lion’s share of the employment opportunities created.
Dr Mafumiko noted that from January 2025 to February 2026, the Authority issued 29,314 permits for the importation of chemical consignments.
“Since each consignment must be cleared following customs procedures, and much of this work is performed by young people, the Authority facilitated employment opportunities for 29,314 citizens and stakeholders, including youth, through the clearance of chemical consignments at ports and border posts,” he said.
He added that during the same period, the Authority issued permits for the transportation of chemical consignments amounting to approximately 1,829,825 tonnes.
Dr Mafumiko explained that since one truck transports about 30 tonnes of chemical consignments, and much of the truck-driving work is undertaken by young people, the Authority facilitated employment opportunities for more than 73,193 citizens and stakeholders, including youth, through the transportation of chemical consignments within and outside the country.
“Overall, through the implementation of the Chemicals Management and Control Act (Cap. 182), the Authority facilitated the creation of more than 146,567 employment opportunities for citizens and stakeholders, including youth,” he said.
Apart from job creation, Dr Mafumiko said that between January 2025 and February 2026, the Government, through the GCLA, has also improved enabling infrastructure.
He said the Authority is currently constructing office and laboratory buildings for the Eastern Zone Office in Dar es Salaam at a cost of 16.74bn/-.
“Upon completion, the project will improve the working environment and service delivery for citizens in Dar es Salaam, Coast Region and neighbouring areas. The Authority has also completed the construction of staff rest houses at the border posts of Rusumo, Kabanga, Mutukula, Holili and Namanga,” he added.
He said the initiatives aimed at improving working and living conditions for employees, particularly those working in 24-hour border operations, have cumulatively cost 1.13bn/-.
Explaining how Tanzanians, especially youth, have benefited from the projects, Dr Mafumiko said the Eastern Zone office and laboratory construction project created jobs for 135 youth.
He added that the construction of staff houses at border posts created jobs for 125 youth, including 15 professionals and 110 casual labourers.
“All professionals and labourers involved were Tanzanian youth from the respective project areas, supporting the Government’s Local Content Policy,” he said.
