Dunga Street, Kinondoni

SSTL Group Building, 1st Floor

Plot 343/345 Block 42
P.O Box 2971, Dar-es-Salaaam
Tel:+255 22 2762158/59
Fax: +255 22 2760666
E-mail: info@ate.or,tz

PRESS RELEASE
ATE launches Employer of the Year Award (EYA) 2017 to
honor best employers for their excellent human
resources practices!!!

Dar es Salaam, Friday 25th August 2017

The Association of Tanzania Employers (ATE) today has officially

launched the Employer of the Year Award for 2017. This activity aims to
uplift human capital and human resources to make them play their lead
role in business performance.

Employer of the Year Award (EYA) is a major activity initiated and carried
out annually by the Association of Tanzania Employers since 2005.
Speaking at the press conference, ATE Executive Director, Dr. Aggrey
Mlimuka said that the Employer of the Year Award specifically aimed to
recognize members who have excelled in putting in place outstanding HR
Management policies and best business practices. According to him,
over the years EYA has inspired member organizations to critically focus
on employment and people management issues as a strategic foundation
for their organizations to deliver a competent, competitive, productive,
engaged and happy workforce.

Based on feedback we have received from our members, stakeholders

and experts, I am happy to inform you that EYA this year is going to be
unique and exciting. We have added new Award Criteria and categories
to reflect the current business environment. Some criteria have been
modified at the same time the questionnaire has been made user friendly.
The new Award criteria for 2017 focus on the following areas:-

Best employers who promote work-life balance will be awarded.

Research show that better performance comes when there is an
element of work as well as leisure. When employees see that they are
encouraged to focus on the outcomes/performance rather than hours
worked they feel valued and their productivity increase.

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 The ageing population, the pensions crisis, the growth in service
industries as well as the general expansion of new graduates has
created a marked change to the Tanzanian labour market. Therefore
ATE believes that best employers who manage an ageing
workforce should be awarded for this best practice so that the
ageing workforce continues to maintain employability through their
working lives. The aged have many advantages such as costs
effectiveness.

Best employers with Employee Wellness practices. The purpose is

to promote healthy for employees improve performance and better
working morale

Best employers who have managed Diversity and Inclusion by

ensuring that adequate policies and practices are in place to ensure
equal employment opportunities is not only available to PWDs but to
all people.

Best employers who attract and retain competent employees. There

are employers who have succeeded to retain their, have the best on
boarding and induction programs and have managed to keep new
hires and ensured that they do not leave the organization.

Best employers with better Industrial relations and labour

practices which is crucial for creating a harmonious working
environment. Compliance to labour and employment matters is still a
challenge to many employers and as such sometimes conflicts are
inevitable. Issues to do with collective bargaining agreements,
freedom of association, employment contracts will be assessed.

Best Employer with a strong brand attracts customers, employees,

stakeholders etc. and is usually an employer of choice. ATE this year
will award best employers whose identity is true, credible, relevant
and aspirational

ATE will award best employer who has invested in Technology.

Modern organisations are increasingly investing in the use and
management of technology to create a competitive advantage. New
technology is the application of new knowledge, skills, tools,
equipment and machines to make goods or provide services.
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The Executive Director added that the other award criteria will continue
to be in the areas of Governance and Leadership, Human Resource
Management Excellence, Quality, productivity and Innovation,
Responsible Business Conduct, Performance Management, Employee
engagement, Talent Management, Training and Development as well as
Occupational Health and Safety,.

ATE this year has also introduced three Award Categories in addition to
the Overall, Award in terms of Sizes. Based on the same HR Practices
which are standard and international according to the criteria used by
the Consultant, we will have the best Private Sector Employers, Best
Public Sector Employers as well as the Best Locally Owned
Employers. Based on our Members feedback, there has been a feeling
that treating all companies the same does not give a fair playing ground
for the competition. Companies differ significantly depending on the
sectors which they belong. Hence the development of sector specific
awards is quite essential according to diverse needs, practices and
preferences or ownership basis.

Dr. Mlimuka said that this activity has two parts, the Survey part leading
to winners which is currently handled by the Independent Consultant,
TanzConsult lead by Prof. BAT Kundi and the second part is event
management till the celebration climax which is scheduled for Friday 8th
December 2017. Dr. Mlimuka also urged all members to participate so
as to benchmark their organizational practices and that of their
counterparts.

Commenting on the process of participation, the EYA Coordinator, Joyce

Nangai urged members to follow the provided link through our EYA
Website www.eya.co.tz or log in to www.eya2017.co.tz which will direct
them to an online questionnaire. She said participating organizations are
requested to submit two filled in questionnaires, one to be completed by
the Management or CEO or Head of HR and another one to be completed
by a junior employee or Trade Union representative. This year ATE has
also developed EYA Information Guide to ease smooth participation
and understanding of the important exercise, she added.

About ATE

The Association of Tanzania Employers (ATE) is the most representative

Employers Organization in the in Tanzania. It was formed in 1960 to
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represent and protect the interest of Employers on Labour and
Employment issues.

As the vital voice of businesses, ATE represents employers in all sectors

of the national economy excluding the civil service. ATE has about 1,400
registered direct members and about 6,000 indirect members drowned
from private business firms, companies and some parastatal
organizations.

In addition to its traditional core mandate of defending the interests of

employers and advocating for harmonious industrial relations at the
workplaces, ATE sensitizes and promotes best management practices in
human resources management and standards among employers for
smooth running of businesses which are essential for increased
productivity and competitiveness thus organizing Annual Employer of the
Year Awards to recognize companies which have excelled in putting in
place best Human Resource Management practices.

The Association serves a membership consisting of large, medium, small

and micro enterprises spread across various sectors of the national
economy. The members include public and private companies,
parastatals, cooperatives societies, Embassies, Business Associations,
religious institutions, NGOs and individuals. Membership of ATE is open
to all Tanzanian employers:- individuals, partnerships, companies, public
corporations, local and other public authorities or associations of
employers and is currently classified into 8 divisions including
Agriculture, Commerce, Industry, Utility and Service, Banking and
Finance, Mining, Oil, and Private Security.

For more information contact EYA Project Coordinator, Joyce Nangai through +255 784
702670 or email nangai@ate.or.tz or Communications Officer, Yunge Kanuda through
+255 657 453618 or email kanuda@ate.or.tz