Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2020, published 109th ILC session (2021)

Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182) - United Republic of Tanzania (Ratification: 2001)

Articles 5, 6 and 7(2) clause (b) of the Convention. Monitoring mechanisms; programmes of action to eliminate the worst forms of child labour; and effective and time-bound measures to provide appropriate and direct assistance for the removal of children from the worst forms of child labour and for their rehabilitation and social integration. Trafficking in children. The Committee previously noted the establishment of the Anti-Trafficking Committee to implement the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act 2008. It also noted the Government’s indication that some centres run by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) deal with the removal of child victims of trafficking for labour and sexual exploitation and their rehabilitation, such as the Kiwohede Centre in Dar es Salaam, Akuwata in Tanga, Don Bosco in Iringa, and Tuleane in Mwanza. The Committee requested the Government to indicate the number of child victims of trafficking who have been rehabilitated in the centres run by the NGOs.

The Committee notes the Government’s information in its report that a National Standardized Guideline for the establishment and management of safe houses for victims of trafficking in persons has been developed in collaboration with other stakeholders. The Government indicates that through the Anti-trafficking in Persons secretariat, 141 victims of trafficking were rescued and assisted. Moreover, in collaboration with the Night Light International based in Thailand and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), eight victims of trafficking were rescued from Thailand, India and Iraq and provided assistance including, protection, rehabilitation and reintegration services.

The Committee also notes from its report under the Forced Labour Convention, 1930 (No.29) that the National Anti-Trafficking in Persons Action Plan (2015–17) has been reviewed and a new Action Plan (2018–22) was launched on 30 July 2018. The Government also indicates in this report that the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Secretariat, in collaboration with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes (UNODC) and IOM, conducted training for 702 key implementers of the Anti-Trafficking Act, including members of the Anti-Trafficking Committee, police officers, judges, immigration officers, social welfare officers and other local leaders and service providers on identifying, investigating, prosecuting and dealing with victims of trafficking. The Committee requests the Government to continue to take the necessary measures to combat trafficking of children and to provide them with appropriate services for their rehabilitation and social integration. It requests it to provide information on the specific measures taken in this regard, including within the framework of the National Anti-Trafficking in Persons Action Plan (2018 – 22). It also requests the Government to provide information on the impact of the measures taken by the Anti-trafficking in Persons Secretariat in terms of the number of children who were prevented or withdrawn from trafficking and then rehabilitated.

Article 7(1). Penalties. The Committee previously noted that sections 78, 79, 80 and 83 of the Law of the Child Act establish penalties ranging from 100,000 Tanzanian shillings (TZS) (US$43.126) to TZS500 million (US$215,624.8), in addition to imprisonment for the offences related to hazardous work, forced labour, prostitution and the sexual exploitation of children. Noting with concern the Government’s statement that so far there had been no prosecutions, convictions or penalties in connection with the above-mentioned provisions of the Law of the Child Act, the Committee requested the Government to take immediate measures to ensure that perpetrators of the worst forms of child labour are prosecuted.

The Committee notes the Government’s statement that information in this regard will be provided once available. The Committee expresses the firm hope that the Government will take the necessary measures to ensure that thorough investigations and prosecutions are carried out against the perpetrators of the worst forms of child labour, including hazardous work. In this regard, it requests the Government to provide information on the number of investigations, prosecutions, convictions and penalties imposed.