The Tanzanian government is committed to building a competitive workforce in the labour market, and as part of this effort, they are targeting a reduction of the unskilled labour force from 77% in 2021 to 54% by 2025.
During the recent Association of Tanzania Employers (ATE) 64th Annual General Meeting and High-Level Conference held in Dar es Salaam, Patrobas Katambi, the Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office (Labour, Youth, Employment & Disabled), emphasized the government’s goal of bringing down the percentage of unskilled labour to 54% by 2025.
Addressing the need to reduce the unskilled labour in the country, he pointed out, “To ensure that the national workforce acquires appropriate skills and becomes employable and creates self-employment the government intends to reduce the unskilled workforce in the labour market from 77 per cent in 2021 to 54 per cent in 2025. This will be done through the National Skills Development Strategy.”
Addressing the meeting’s theme, ‘The Role of Social Partners in Promoting Skills Development Through Workplace Learning Models (Apprenticeship, Internship, and Practical Training),’ the deputy minister highlighted its alignment with President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s collaborative efforts in skill development for the benefit of the country’s economy.
“In ensuring that the skill development programmes are sustainable, the country’s budget for 2023/24, proposed to reduce Skills Development Levy (SDL) from four per cent to 3.5 per cent and promised to continue to reduce it gradually in order to reduce the burden on employers and stimulate opportunities of employment in the country,” he added.
Katambi specifically urged all employers in Tanzania to provide training opportunities for individuals with disabilities, emphasizing the importance of fostering diversity and inclusion through skill development in the workplace.
ATE’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Advocate Suzanne Ndomba-Doran, praised the government’s ongoing efforts to incentivise and motivate employers through policies and programs, including the reduction of SDL, to encourage their active participation in skill development and job creation.
“ATE will continue to cooperate with the government and I hope we will use this Annual General Meeting (AGM) to further improve the government’s plans and strategies in combating the challenges of unemployment in the country,” she added.
As part of the event, the 64th meeting of ATE encompassed various activities, such as the election of Oscar Mgaya as the new ATE chairman and the launch of the association’s membership portal.