ATE advised on inclusive industrial economy

By DAILY NEWS Reporter 

THE Association of Tanzania Employers (ATE) yesterday held its 59th Annual General Meeting (AGM). During the AGM, all employers in the private sector were urged to contribute to the building of the inclusive industrial economy that could uplift people’s social welfare.

Speaking yesterday, the Industry, Trade and Investment Permanent Secretary, Prof Elisante Ole Gabriel, said private sector employers should support government endeavours by building the industrial economy which he said had multiplying effects on citizens.

“An inclusive industrial economy has direct effects on businesses, including an increase in the purchasing power of its consumers, increasing the employees’ base and providing an enabling working environment,” he explained.

He said agriculture offered the potential for the private sector to tap and contribute to inclusive growth and benefit all segments of the population. He added: “Economic growth creates opportunities for all segments of the population for increased prosperity both in monetary and non-monetary terms across the fabric of society.”

Prof Elisante emphasised the importance of cultivating mutual trust in private sector employers, the government and trade unions as these tripartite parties are necessary in realising the inclusive industrial economy.

“We need to have good and sustainable relationship for the tripartite parties to build the country’s economic growth,” he noted, stressing a need for employers to differentiate between employment and empowerment.

He said for employees, employment meant making gains geared towards improving their living standards. For her part, the ATE Chairperson, Ms Jayne Nyimbo-Taylor, said the theme of the high level ATE workshop, ‘Blueprint for regulatory reforms to improve business environment’, would stimulate discussions on how to better the business environment.

“We strongly believe the Blueprint has come at the right time, as it covers fiscal implications for reforms and provides recommendations for improving the business environment,” she stressed.

She said through the Blueprint, employers would get answers for challenges affecting businesses in various aspects like policies, laws, regulations, levies and taxes that require reforms to curb the cost of doing business and attracting more investments.