In Tanzania Freeze on public jobs shocks trade unions

Trade unions have expressed surprise at the government’s decision to freeze new public service employment and pay rise for thousands of eligible civil servants. 

The jobs freeze, which was confirmed on Monday by Public Service Management Permanent Secretary Laurean Ndumbaro, came as a shock to union leaders, who told The Citizen yesterday that they would seek audience with the government over the matter with a view to having the decision overturned.

The union leaders spoke even as Health minister Ummy Mwalimu expressed hope that the matter would not be prolonged to the extent of affecting her docket which, along with education, would be hit hard by the decision.  The health and education sectors expected to recruit at least 45,000 new employees, mainly secondary school teachers, doctors and nurses, in 2016/17.

Anxiety was also evident among public sector employees as they discussed the consequences of the indefinite ban on new jobs and pay rise among the over 400,000 public sector workers. Some of the workers said they feared for their jobs, adding that union leaders appeared to be clueless about the government’s real intention.