The Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office responsible for Labour, Youth, Employment and Persons with Disability, Prof. Joyce Ndalichako has launched a new Ministerial Advisory Board for the Occupational Safety and Health Authority (OSHA). 

The board that will serve for the tenure of three years is composed of seven members picked from diverse sectors including employers and workers associations. 

The members and their respective positions in brackets are; Dr. Adelhelm James Meru (Chairperson), Khadija Mwenda (Secretary), Dr. Baghayo Abdallah Saqware (Member), Ms.Lilian Dennis Francis (Member), Mr. Peter Paul Ngowi (Member), Mr. Alfred Lucas Mwamanda and Mr. Willy Artison Kibona (Member).

Addressing board members in the launching ceremony in Arusha, Prof. Ndalichako noted that the sixth-phase government led by President Samia Suluhu Hassan targets uplifting Tanzania’s economy to upper-middle economy from the current lower-middle economy whereas she emphasized that the target cannot be reached without ensuring that workplaces are safe and building a healthier workforce.

“I think we all see the efforts by our President Samia Suluhu Hassan which are aimed at attracting big investments in our country by which through the investments many employment opportunities could be created. However, in order to have sustainable production in the anticipated investments, we need healthier workforce coupled with safe working environment and this is a point where your contribution is needed,” explained the Minister for Labour Matters.

Moreover, the minister highlighted some of the responsibilities of the installed Board which she said included advising on reviewing outdated Policy, Laws, Regulations and various government orders together with monitoring the performance of the Agency for the period of three years of their service.

She urged the new Board to effectively lead OSHA to achieve more than what has been achieved in the previous five years (2016/2017-2021/2022). 

As per statistics unveiled by the Minister during the new Board’s inaugural ceremony, in the past five years OSHA recorded great achievements including increasing new workplace registration from 4,003 in 2016/2017 to 23,239 in 2021/2022 financial year as well as increasing Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) inspections from 96,000 to 784,000 within the same period.

The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry who accompanied Minister Ndalichako, Prof. Jamal Katundu, congratulated the Board Members for their appointment, urging them to work diligently in helping the Agency achieve its objectives.

 

“While ending my address, may I throw a challenge to you which is to think about leaving a legacy after your service term is over,” noted Prof. Katundu.

 

OSHA Chief Executive, Ms. Khadija Mwenda, who according to the structure of the Board becomes the Secretary of the Board, said the apparatuses (boards) have been playing significant roles in promoting development of the Authority, noting she was optimistic that through the guidance of the launched Board, OSHA will continue growing and recording more achievements.

 

While giving vote of thanks on behalf of his fellow board members, the Board Chairperson who has been appointed for the second term, Dr. Adelhelm Meru, said he and fellow Board members were eager to work and that they would work hard in fulfilling their responsibilities.

The launching ceremony was followed by a tour in one of the horticultural seeds production farms as among workplaces under OSHA supervision. During the visit, a representative from a company owning the farms christened Enza Zaden Africa Ltd, Mr. Gerald Matowo, expressed their appreciation for being selected among other workplaces to host a delegation of Ministry’s top leaders, new Board members and OSHA executives.