While Tanzania’s Development Vision 2020 is taking shape moving ahead, which will lead the country to middle income status, there is no way the country can achieve this major transformation without a committed labour force.
In his speech, as part of the celebrations to mark the International Workers’ Day, the Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Tanzania, Dr Lu Youqing, has reminded the nation on the role of all Tanzanian workers in attaining the country’s 2020 goal.
This memento came at an opportune time when the nation is marking May Day celebrations today. The ambassador was speaking at the ceremony to award best workers serving in Chinese companies operating in the country recently.
“I would advise that both Chinese and Tanzanian workers and especially Chinese Companies promote the spirit of industriousness and use their best workers as a model of promoting exemplary workforce,” said the envoy.
During the awarding ceremony, 29 employees won the awards for long-term dedication to their jobs, while 18 won the outstanding performance awards. Further 9 employees won the outstanding contribution awards. Seventy-five per cent of the lucky workers are Tanzanians.
Also two Chinese companies won the best employer awards. In his words of wisdom, the envoy further said that the companies’ managements are also supposed to train all workers to work diligently, innovatively and honestly.
The ambassador also called upon the managements to protect workers’ remuneration. He also urged that these employers should think of better ways of creating more jobs, improve work environment, boost workers income and ensure that workers’ benefits are delivered according to the law.
Most labour philosophers concur with Dr Youqing philosophy that once all these plans are implemented then it will enable these companies to perform better and record high returns and elevate their market status as to be exemplary investors who will be embraced by both the people and their governments.
Therefore, it cannot be overstated on the importance of incorporating professional training in these companies regardless of whether they are operating in the east or west.
But their co-existence and symbiotic relations with their employees is of paramount importance which is key to maintaining harmony and tranquility. Based on the principle of productivity, Dr Lu Youqing further explains that there was a need to invest in workers’ skills in order to achieve growth and development in these entities. There is no way companies can ignore the training component in this contemporary world.
He, therefore, called upon the companies to assist Tanzania workers to learn new technologies and expertise.
“Now most of the Chinese companies operating in the country are doing an excellent job, as they extend training to them through seminars and even giving them scholarship to undergo professional training in China,” said the ambassador. It is evident that there are statistics showing that many Chinese companies have created employment to the local people in the country.
It was enough to endorse the ambassadors words, when the Dar es Salaam Regional Commissioner (RC), Paul Makonda, who attended the award ceremony, said that the government recognises China’s eminent contribution to this country and we are all grateful for such contribution to the national economy.
But the ambassador continued saying that: “Our cooperation has been enhanced and has expanded to the extent that China takes first position in business sector in the country’s external trade and is the second among countries investing in Tanzania.
According to the ambassador, China has created over 1.5 employment opportunities and more than 350,000 people are involved in China- Tanzania trade relations,” said the envoy.
He said some of these projects include the recent opened Nyerere Bridge which links Dar es Salaam central business district with Kigamboni, the Mtwara gas pipeline and Julius Nyerere International Convention Centre (JNICC).
He went further to describe such training as the best way in building these companies capacity and use labour intensity while ensuring that the employees are highly capable for the development of Tanzania.
However, when one reflects on President XI Jinping’s philosophy of Chinese Dream, it is crystal clear that it does not only benefit the people of China, but also other countries.
Some of the businesspeople who attended the ceremony recently, gave testimonies showing that the Chinese companies are implementing what was advised by the president, while operating their businesses in Tanzania.
The president in his book: The Governance of China; speaks volume of the essence of making China prosperous and strong, revitalise the nation and make the people live better lives not only in China but also benefit other countries.
According to him: “Our objectives are to double the 2010 GDP and per capita income of urban and rural residents and complete the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects by 2020.”
There is no doubt that Tanzania and China share the same vision which is based on building strong nations that are prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced and harmonious.
Therefore, since China has shown her willingness to support transfer of technology in the country, as put forth by the ambassador, it is upon our people to grab the opportunity and demonstrate to our Chinese comrades that commitment of partnership and living harmoniously with them is supported both by our leaders and people.
Source: AllAfrica