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

Labour Inspectorates (Non-Metropolitan Territories) Convention, 1947 (No. 85) - United Republic of Tanzania.Zanzibar (Ratification: 1964)

Article 2 of the Convention. Training of labour inspectors. The Committee notes the Government’s report according to which labour officers are trained on various issues of importance for the effective and efficient performance of their duties and powers. The Committee also notes that a needs assessment of the labour administration and labour inspection system of the United Republic of Tanzania, including Zanzibar, was carried out by the ILO in 2009 and discussed with the Government in 2010. According to the needs assessment, the lack of training for inspectors is one of the most evident weaknesses in the Labour Commission of Zanzibar and was identified by the Commissioner as an area requiring technical assistance for capacity building. The Committee requests the Government to keep the ILO informed of any steps taken or envisaged in order to provide adequate training to labour inspectors and reminds the Government that it may avail itself of ILO technical assistance in this regard, if it so wishes.

Article 3. Communication with workers and their representatives. The Committee notes that the Government indicates that workers and their representatives are involved in the process of labour inspection and are free to communicate with labour officers on issues of non-compliance with labour laws. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the number of complaints received from workers or their representatives and on the manner in which workers and their representatives become involved in the process of labour inspection.

Articles 4 and 5. Powers and obligations of labour inspectors. The Committee notes with interest the provisions of the Occupational Safety and Health Act No. 8 of 2005, provided by the Government, which meet the requirements of Articles 4 and 5. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would provide in its next report detailed information and data on the manner in which the powers and obligations of labour inspectors under the Convention are exercised in practice (e.g. statistics of inspection visits, complaints investigated, action taken, etc.).