Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2012, published 102nd ILC session (2013)

Minimum Wage Fixing Convention, 1970 (No. 131) - United Republic of Tanzania (Ratification: 1983)

Article 2(1) of the Convention. Lower minimum wage rates for young persons. The Committee notes with interest that the Regulation of Wages and Terms of Employment Order, 2010 (Government Notice No. 172 of 2010) no longer provides for lower minimum wage rates for young persons between 15 and 18 years of age.

Article 4. Minimum wage fixing machinery. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that in addition to the eight sectoral wage boards created in 2007 for agriculture, commerce and trade, health services, hotel and domestic services, marine services, transport and communication, private security and mining industries, four new wage boards have now been established for the energy, private schools, construction and communication sectors. The Committee also notes the period of tension that followed the minimum wage increases decided in 2007 and which eventually led to the revocation of Order No. 233 and the issuance of Order No. 172 of 2010. Under the terms of that Order, which is still in force to date, minimum wage rates vary from 70,000 Tanzanian Shillings (TZS) (approximately US$45) per month in agriculture to TZS350,000 (approximately $223) per month in aviation services and mining prospecting licences.

The Committee further notes the Government’s indications that some wage boards were not able to conduct any investigation on minimum wage and working conditions in 2011 and that steps were taken to commission a study on minimum wage in order to assist the members of the wage boards in their deliberations.

With regard to the application of the Convention in Zanzibar, the Committee notes that the Wage Advisory Board has now been established pursuant to section 92 of Employment Act No. 11 of 2005 and has formulated its recommendations that led to the issuance of Circular No. 1 of 2012 by which the Minister of Labour raised the minimum wage from TZS70,000 (approximately $45) to TZS145,000 (approximately $92) per month. The Committee trusts that the Government will pursue its efforts to guarantee the smooth operation of the minimum wage fixing process and to engage in genuine and effective consultations with the social partners in these matters. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide detailed information on the functioning of the various wage boards and the evolution of the minimum wage rates by sector.

Article 5 and Part V of the report form. Application in practice. The Committee notes the statistical information provided by the Government concerning the number of labour inspection visits carried out and the number of wage-related infringements recorded in the period 2011–12. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide all available information on the practical application of the Convention.