Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2009, published 99th ILC session (2010)

Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention, 1958 (No. 111) - United Republic of Tanzania (Ratification: 2002)

Article 2 of the Convention. Equality of opportunity and treatment between men and women. The Committee notes the information provided by the Government in reply to its request concerning the measures taken to promote women’s access to income-generating activities in the formal and informal economies, in particular information on the measures taken to promote access by women to credit. The Committee also notes that, according to the Government’s 2005 report  on the implementation of the Platform for Action (Beijing +10), it had initiated a number of programmes and projects aimed at developing self‑employment in rural and urban areas, with special emphasis on increasing the employment possibilities for poor women. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the implementation of these programmes, projects and measures, as well as on their impact in terms of the employment of women, including self-employment, in both rural and urban areas. In this regard, it once again requests the Government to provide any statistical information available on the position of men and women in the labour market.

Access of women to education and vocational training. The Committee wishes to emphasize that access to education and vocational training is an important prerequisite for access to a wider range of better paid jobs requiring higher qualifications. In that context, the Committee notes that, according to the Government, the participation of women in vocational training is encouraging. However, it also notes that, according to the Beijing +10 report, stereotypes relating to the roles of men and women in society continue to limit the access of girls to formal education, particularly higher education, and that the challenge is to encourage girls and women to pursue training traditionally reserved for men or dominated by men. In this report, the Government adds that the access of girls to higher education has always been limited for other reasons, such as the lack of financial resources and early marriages. Noting this information, the Committee requests the Government to indicate the measures taken or envisaged to facilitate and encourage the access of girls and women to higher education and to training in which they are underrepresented and to promote the diversification of the jobs held by women, including measures designed to combat sexist stereotypes and prejudices which continue to hinder the participation of women in the country’s economy.

Article 3(a). Cooperation with the social partners. The Committee notes that the Government mentions in its report that the social partners have carried out awareness-raising activities designed to promote equal opportunity and eliminate discrimination in workplaces. The Committee requests the Government to provide detailed information on the types of cooperation established with employers and workers in order to facilitate social dialogue on matters relating to non-discrimination and equality in employment and occupation.

Article 3(d). Public sector. The Committee notes the statistical information provided by the Government concerning the proportion of men and women employed in high-level posts in the public sector. It welcomes that, with a few exceptions, the proportion of women in high-level posts increased between 2004–05 and 2008–09, even if, at best, women do not account for more than 41 per cent of staff, which is the case, for example, in the position of regional administrative secretary. The Committee encourages the Government to continue its efforts to promote the access of women to high-level posts as well as to posts with career prospects in the public service, and requests it to provide information on the measures taken or envisaged to that end and on the progress made. The Government is also requested to provide information on any measures designed to eliminate discrimination on any of the grounds mentioned in Article 1 of the Convention and to promote equal opportunity at all levels of the public service. Furthermore, noting the Government’s statement that the minister responsible for the public service is currently in the process of carrying out a full audit of human resources in order to gather statistical data on the number of men and women employed in the public service, the Committee hopes that the Government will be able to provide this information in its next report.

Positive measures. The Committee notes that the Employment and Labour Relations Act, 2004 specifies that the adoption of positive measures compatible with the promotion of equality or the elimination of discrimination in the workplace does not constitute discrimination (section 28(4)(a)). The Committee therefore requests the Government to provide information on the specific measures taken or envisaged to encourage the access of persons belonging to the most vulnerable groups of the population, in particular the disabled and persons living in rural areas, to employment, an occupation or income‑generating activities.

Zanzibar

The Committee notes the information concerning Zanzibar provided by the Government. Noting that the Government mentions the adoption of an employment policy in 2009 which includes issues relating to the situation of women in employment and aims to improve the job prospects of disabled persons, the Committee requests the Government to provide a copy of that policy with its next report.

The Government also indicates that the Employment Act (Act No. 11 of 2005) provides that every employer shall take measures to promote equal opportunity in the workplace, eliminate discrimination and ensure equal pay for equal work for men and women. The Committee requests the Government to indicate the measures taken by employers under the non-discrimination provisions of the 2005 Employment Act with regard to the recruitment, training, promotion, ongoing employment and employment conditions of workers, and to provide a copy of that Act. The Government is also requested to indicate the measures taken or envisaged to promote equality of opportunity and treatment and to combat any form of discrimination in the workplace on any grounds prohibited by the Convention (race, colour, sex, religion, political opinion, national extraction or social origin) and to provide information on any cases of discrimination in employment or occupation dealt with by the competent authorities.

Furthermore, the Committee notes that programmes designed to improve knowledge of the labour legislation are broadcast over the radio and on the television in Zanzibar. Please clarify whether these programmes tackle the issues of equality and non-discrimination in employment and also provide information on any other awareness-raising activities targeting the public in general, but also specifically targeting workers, employers and their organizations.

Finally, noting the Government’s indications that inspections carried out in workplaces also raise awareness of the labour legislation, the Committee requests the Government to provide as detailed information as possible on the activities of labour inspectors with regard to combating discrimination and their results (extracts from inspection reports available, etc.).