Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2010, published 100th ILC session (2011)

Employment Service Convention, 1948 (No. 88) - United Republic of Tanzania.Tanganyika (Ratification: 1962)

The Committee notes the report provided by the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania in October 2010 containing detailed replies to the 2005 direct request. The Committee recalls that the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania forwarded, in October 2009, the replies by the Government of Zanzibar to the questionnaire to prepare the General Survey on employment instruments.

Articles 1–3 of the Convention. Contribution of the national system of the employment service to the achievement and maintenance of full employment. The Committee notes that, due to a need for an efficient and effective Employment Promotion Centre, the Labour Exchange Centre was transformed into the Tanzania Employment Services Agency (TaESA), a semi-autonomous agency of the Government with its headquarters based in Dar es Salaam and four zonal offices: Dar es Salaam for Coast Zone, Dodoma for Central Zone, Arusha for Northern Zone and Mwanza for Lake Zone. From July 2009 to June 2010, the TaESA recorded 3,410 applications for employment, 2,144 being female and 1,266 male. The number of vacancies notified by employers through TaESA was 954, out of which 153 persons obtained employment, 61 being female and 92 male. The Committee invites the Government to continue to report on the measures adopted by the TaESA to achieve the best possible organization of the employment market as an integral part of the national programme for the achievement and maintenance of full employment and the development and use of productive resources.

Articles 4 and 5. Cooperation of the social partners. The Government indicates the establishment of District Employment Services Committees in the regions of Mtwara, Lindi and Morogoro, and reports its intention to extend additional committees to other regions. The Committee notes that these committees are tripartite in nature and duty bound to advise the local government authorities on all issues relating to employment promotion. The Committee invites the Government to include in its next report further information on the activities of the social partners in the organization and operation of the District Employment Service Committees and in the development of employment service policy.

Cooperation with private employment agencies. The Government reports on efforts by TaESA to establish a close link with and improve service delivery of private employment agencies by regulating, registering and monitoring their operations. The Committee notes that, during the financial year 2009–10, 17 private employment agencies were inspected and recognized. In its General Survey of 2010 on employment instruments, the Committee highlighted that the public employment service is one of the necessary institutions for the achievement of full employment. In conjunction with the Employment Policy Convention, 1964 (No. 122), and the Private Employment Agencies Convention, 1997 (No. 181), Convention No. 88 forms a necessary building block for employment growth General Survey, op. cit., paragraphs 785–790). The Committee would appreciate receiving in the next report additional information on the measures adopted to ensure cooperation between the TaESA and the private employment agencies. The Committee invites the Government to include information on measures taken to build institutions for the realization of full employment and encourages the Government and the social partners to envisage the ratification of the Employment Policy Convention, 1964 (No. 122), and the Private Employment Agencies Convention, 1997 (No. 181).

Articles 7 and 8. Employment needs of people with disabilities and of juveniles. The Government indicates that, in 2005, the Welfare Department was relocated from the Ministry of Labour, Youth Development and Sports to the Ministry of Health. The Committee also notes that there has been a delay in establishing employment programmes for people with disabilities and juveniles. The Committee requests the Government to include in its next report further information on efforts made to adequately meet the needs of workers with disabilities and young workers within the framework of the employment and vocational guidance services.

Application of the Convention. In reply to the previous request, the Government indicates that, up to now, no decision has been taken to make the Convention applicable to the whole territory of the United Republic of Tanzania. The Committee understands that measures will be taken to initiate consultations with the Government of Zanzibar to ensure that Convention No. 88 applies to the whole territory of the United Republic of Tanzania. The Government further states that any progress made in this regard will be communicated to the Office accordingly. The Committee invites the Government to indicate in its next report if any further progress was made to apply the Convention to the whole territory of the United Republic of Tanzania.