Africa-Press – Tanzania. THE government has issued a one-month ultimatum to the labour division to shape up and address bureaucracy practices that delay issuance of work permits, which have been scaring away foreign investors.
Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office, Policy, Parliamentary Affairs, Labour, Employment, Youth and the Disabled, Jenista Mhagama (pictured) issued the ultimatum here on Saturday during a meeting with labour division employees.
She said failure to make the changes in one month will result in disciplinary action. Ms Mhagama also directed the Labour Commissioner to submit a report to her office on Wednesday on who is involved and the motive behind delays in issuing nine work permits applied since last year and disciplinary measures to be taken.
“You should go through the dispatches, and see who received the applications and where they got stuck since last year and advice on proper measures to be taken, because such misconduct tarnish the government image, this won’t be tolerated” Ms Mhagama said.
She said her office will make a routine monitoring and follow up on labour division staff, adding that those who in one way or another deliberately chose to be a setback to investors and national interests will be given their ideal share.
The minister said issuance of work permits has been an area which President Samia Suluhu Hassan identified as a frustrating stage to investors, noting that fast tracking the process should be a top agenda while safeguarding national interests.
Ms Mhagama further pointed out that in efforts to address the challenges, the government has started an online system for work permit applications which will be tested for one month to see whether it is user friendly.
She said the new system became effective from Friday this week. She said the online work permit application system should have a dashboard to see where the application file is stuck for proper action, close follow up and monitoring.
“After a month we will make the necessary changes if any to make it user friendly… upon official launching, applicants will acquire the permits within 24 hours if all required documents are intact,” she said.
The minister further said that the online system will be a lasting solution to delays in handling work permit applications as well as addressing corruption and other malpractices in the labour division.
She also stressed on the need for review of laws and regulations by all departments related to work permit applications for harmonisation.
The minister also wanted them to revisit the levies and fees to see if they are investor friendly or come up with the best option to attract strategic investors.
However, she cautioned that the issuance of permits should not take Tanzanian’s share in the employment quota and directed for immediate hosting of a meeting between investor companies to come up with the best give and take option for both parties in dealing with the permit challenges.
In her first address in Parliament this week, President Samia Suluhu Hassan expressed dissatisfaction with the performance of the Labour Division, saying that issuance of work permits is surrounded by red tape and bureaucracy which as a result frustrate strategic investors.
“We want to remove red tape in our desire to woo investors — including issuance of work permits and licences.
Our country has been blamed over unpredicted investment laws and policies as well as nepotism when investors want to invest,” President Samia said.
