Scrapping of OSHA's Fees Likely To Woo More Investments In Tanzania

 By STAFF REPORTER 

PRESIDENT Samia Suluhu Hassan has continued to ensure investors that Tanzania is a safe and profitable sky to extend their investment footholds. 

This, is after the Head of State to bless reduction and removal of some nuisance fees that were being charged by the Occupational Safety and Health Authority (OSHA), worth around 35 bn/-.

Deputy Minister, Prime Minister's Office (Labour, Youth, Employment & Persons with Disability), Mr. Patrobas Katambi expressed that President Samia's efforts to improve investment environment and policies in the country was getting impressive outcomes. 

He was speaking at the  Parliamentary Social Welfare and Development Committee meeting which convened in Dodoma Capital City for tabling report over OSHA's executive and achievements. 

He detailed that, scrapping of the fees was in response to a special plea previously aired by traders in the country through the Association of Tanzania Employers ( ATE) with an eye to help improve investment pace in Tanzania. 

And Mr. Katambi added: "Issues pertaining to safety and health at work places will continue to be given serious attention to ensure the country's working power is at safe side," he insisted.

MP Fatuma Toufiq is the Chairperson of the  Parliamentary Standing Committee on Social Welfare and Development. 

During the meeting, she hailed the government for taking into consideration and translate into reality the ideas being offered by the committee to help improve the performance of OSHA.

Among the top  suggestions,  according to her, include a need to capacitate the Authority, OSHA, with modern working facilities. 

For his side, OSHA's Chief Executive Officer ( CEO), Ms. Khadija Mwenda expressed that the fee for electricity testing in fuel stations, especially in rural areas, has been reduced from 650,000/- to at least 150,000/- in order to attract potential investors and eliminate fuel being sold in bottles.

However, he communicated that there have been a positive results where OSHA has reached 2,708 stations compared to before the fee reduction, whereby only 1,153 stations were reached.