ATE, ERB sign deal to empower women at workplace

Florian Jamax

DAR ES SALAAM: THE Association of Tanzania Employers (ATE) has signed a year’s agreement with the Engineers Registration Board (ERB) worth over 100m/- to promote equality in the workplace.

Through the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) inked in Dar es Salaam on Wednesday, ATE will annually receive 13 ERB female workers to attend the Future Female Programme on capacity building.

ATE’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Ms Suzanne Ndomba-Doran said the agreement signifies the importance of ATE’s initiatives to empower women in workplaces.

“The step taken by the ERB proves that the service given by ATE to the employed women is vital and productive,” said Ms Ndomba during the launch and introduction session of the 10th cohort of the female future programme.

Speaking on the programme which started in 2016, Ms Ndomba said this year’s enrollment is unique because female workers from different companies have already registered.

“The previous cohort had 76 women graduates but until morning, the number has reached 116 from 27 companies,” said Ms Ndomba.

ERB Registrar Eng Bernard Kavishe said the agreement with ATE will not only promote gender equality but also motivate girls in schools to pursue science studies to increase the number of female engineers in the country.

“We are still faced with the challenge of shortage of female engineers…for example, in every three engineers, one is female…the number is not satisfactory,” he said.

He added “As at the end of this contract, 42 women engineers will be trained and we expect to increase the number as we move forward,” said Eng Kavishe.

ERB is mandated to monitor and regulate the engineering practice in the country through the registration of engineers, engineering technicians, and consulting firms. Under the law, it is illegal for an engineer or an engineering firm to practice the profession if it is not registered with the Board.

The Board has also been given the statutory mandate to withdraw the right to practice from registered engineers if found guilty of professional misconduct or professional incompetence.